When you order 33 shrimp for $11.99, you really have no one to blame but yourself. What are you expecting? Fresh, jumbo prawns straight out of the Atlantic? This is Joe's Crab Shack in Arizona. I had low expectations and they were basically met. The beer battered shrimp looked like the dried shrimp you'd find in a styrofoam ramen container, wetted up and semi-brought back to life. No biggie. The coconut ones were kinda yummy in a no-frills sort of way. Really sweet server and hey, you know what? I like this place. Just know what you're getting when you pay 36 cents per shrimp.
(3)
Mela L.
I have visited joes a couple of times during lunch time & its never overcrowded. A really good place to have good attentive service and some seafood during lunch. They seat well (away from other parties) its spacious and has booths in different ends of the room. The management both male and female (Courtney) really live up to what a manager should be like. Beth, the waitress (with her pretty modest makeup) is by farthest the best waitress hands down!!!!! She is pleasant, doesn't take forever to check back and is a gem overall. She makes suggestions and aims to please. They are lucky to have her! I have, honestly, never been in a establishment where I continue to get treated the very same way all the time I pay a visit. It could be because when I visit it ain't that busy but still I love the acknowledgement! I hope every guest gets treated that very same way. The food is good but they def play a role in us coming back. Now the food, ain't fail us yet!!! We have tried a range from the crab tapers to the great seafood rolls to the calamari, the mussels, all have been seasoned so good & it always taste so bomb! The cooks are soooo consistent there. An the music, OMG, they have like the bomb.com 90's mix station. You will hear Brian McKnight to TLC there to a nice Joplin beat. Annnnnd to top it off, they even offer $2 bites (some come in a bed of fries) and every Thursday is 50% off drinks. I love this place.
(5)
Diana D.
My entire family went last night. We are all east-coast lovers of fresh shellfish. I ordered the Lobster Daddy Feast. We had a very cranky 4 year old with us who was overtired. 'Nuff said about that. 1. Service was 5-star all the way. 5-stars for service! 2. The crab legs in the Lobster Daddy Feast were fresh and delicious. 5-stars. 3. The lobsters were not that good. They just didn't taste freshly steamed from live lobsters. They were slightly fishy as if they had been frozen. I usually eat all parts of the lobster, tamale, even those little legs... but not this time. 4. Full bar was good! Yay! I recommend you stay with shrimp and crab legs, or at least ask ahead if the lobsters are live right before steaming. I was going to do 3 stars, but really, most of the night was very good.... although I wasn't the one paying the check this time. :)
(4)
Janelle E.
I have only been to Joe's crabshack one other time. I don't really remember how the food was the first time, but after eating here again I know why it's not memorable. On my latest visit I ordered a dish of crab stuffed shrimp. How awesome does that sound? Sadly, it was so bland! The night that we were there was Super Bowl night and the restaurant was nearly empty. So I was a little confused why our food took so long to come out. It took 45 minutes and it was only my husband and I at our table. We're the cooks watching the game instead of making our food? The food wasn't great and we waited too long. We won't be back.
(2)
Marti S.
Nigga! This place is super flame! Pretty pricy but it does pay off in the long run. Everything is deliciously! The Ragin' Cajun tho is my favorite! Check it out!
(5)
Monica O.
It was the 1st month of year and it was already kicking our ass so some coworkers wanted to get together for an happy hour/dinner and the place picked was Joe's Crab Shack, alright I'm in. I was lucky enough to work the early shift that day so another coworker and I headed off and got there around a quarter to 5, just in time for happy hour! 5 dollar drafts & apps! Hello!! So I ordered a blue moon or 2 or 4, whose counting lol and some crazy good crab dip. The crab dip was loaded with crab meat in a melted cream cheese & parmesan mix, it was great! Went well with the Blue Moon! Everyone arrived around 6pm so off to a table we went, I knew I wanted crab and that's what I went for! A bucket of Queen Crab but in the Cajun flavoring, came with French fries and hushpuppies, it was 1 ¼ pound of crab, and it was good! I enjoyed my dinner! Service was great, food was good! Great times were had!
(4)
Jessica K.
Came in last night for dinner. We were quickly seated by the host and asked if we had ever been to Joes. We said no, and she said ok well your waiter will answer any questions you have. Ok, then why did you even ask us? Just seemed odd... I'm not a huge seafood fan so I opted for calm chowder, hush puppies and a side ceasar. The ceasar was the absolute worst salad I've ever had. Some of the lettuce was brown/black on the edges and I think they may have given me half a teaspoon of dressing. Disappointing. Hush puppies were super greasy and a little overcooked. A side order included 8 - way more than I expected. Others at the table really enjoyed their food! Our waiter was prompt and refilled our drinks quickly. I would suggest coming for lunch - cheap options. Or on Tuesday, all day, they have a whole $2 menu with lots of items.
(3)
Juliana L.
Second time I eat from this chain, first time in this location. Drinks were weak, service was "okay", food was decent. I personally find this establishment overpriced and not even fresh enough. The seafood lacks a natural, well, seafood flare! Lol! Their seasoning is rather heavy, almost as if they are trying to hide a frozen food taste!!! Also, this location was oddly located by a loud street and not well decorated inside... Overall, not a great seafood lunch/dinner environment. We rather not come back....
(3)
Julie S.
I love the calamari! The shrimp boil on the new patio menu is fabulous and plentiful! !
(3)
MJ B.
We went to Joe's Crab Shack on Southern Ave for the first time last night for a birthday dinner. For a Tuesday night it was very empty but almost everyone was there for a bday celebration . Our waiter was Ian and extremely attentive and speedy. The food was excellent though I am glad for a good steak lol. Tuesday's are a great deal for select appetizers and drinks for $2. But do be wary of purchasing gift cards online as the bait and switch on the extra $5 promo for purchase is not good till another future visit. The waiters/waitresses do make a great performances for each birthday celebration !
(3)
Audra J.
Good service, good crab and clams. The lobster bisque was gross and the fries were too salty by a mile.
(3)
Bonnie W.
I've stayed away from this place because of the reviews, but its right down the street and my Mother wanted to go. It was Easter Sunday, 1 PM, so, it wasn't crowded at all. 2 of us had the Jumbo Bairdi Crab Boil and it was absolutely fantastic...meaty and sweet. Mom had the Jumbo Fried Shrimp plate and took half of it home...just great. Perhaps, it was because it wasn't that crowded that everything was fresh and service friendly and timely. I would not hesitate to go back! I didn't rate it as a 5 because "As good as it gets" only comes fresh out of the ocean...this was as close as you're going to get in Phoenix.
(4)
Doug T.
We've always liked Joe's Crab shack and the one at the Mills is really loud so we decided to try this one. Anyways, it's the normal looking Joe's with merchandise to buy. The music isn't blasting so it was better and better atmosphere to eat at. The servers dance as usual for all the customers every once in awhile. To start off, we had the Classic Sampler which included fried calamari, Jalapeno balls, Tortilla chips with a Crab dip. The calamari was okay and the Jalapeño balls had a really nice kick to it and the crab dip was pretty good. Nothing great. Nothing to write home about. Also, my wife and son ordered the clam chowder. They always have to try everyone's chowder. This was probably the most disappointing chowder. I tried it and it didn't have a lot of taste plus it was luke warm. Not good. For dinner, I had the Artic Bay Steampot. It had Lobster, Crab legs, Shrimp, Sausage, potatoes, and corn on the cob. It was okay. Not a lot of taste. At the middle of my meal, everything was cold. Not a real fan. Seafood was okay. The sausage seemed like it had a hard skin and wasn't very tasty. The best part of the meal was the corn in the cob. My wife had the Spaghetti Lobster. It was served cold. So she didn't eat it. Wasn't at all impressed. The manager came by to ask us about our food and we told him that the clam chowder and spaghetti lobster was cold when we got it. He apologize and took it off our bill. Plus he gave use a few coupons for free appetizers. So as you can see, we didn't have a very pleasant experience today. Food was so so and cold. Not impressed at all. If we do ever come back, it probably won't be for a long time cause there's just too many place to try. Good Luck at this place.
(2)
Aaron A.
Went for the snow crab, and my girlfriend got the queen crab, both absolutely amazing! It is definitely pricey stuff, but you also have to take into account the great quality with no close oceans. Service was great as well, our server zach was very friendly and attentive but didn't overstay or get in the way of us enjoying our meal. Hush puppies weren't my thing, but fries were good. :)
(4)
Sisely H.
Went to Joes on Valentine's Day and it was PACKED. The guy at the booth told us the wait was an hour.. It could have been worse, the one at Az Mills had a two hour wait. So we waited, and the name was called twenty minutes early! I was really surprised. We were seated and Marina was our waitress. This was my first time at this location, and after reading all the horrible reviews, I was a little nervous. But Marina made us feel right at home, and definitely proved that you should see things yourself! Not the best seafood I've ever had, but for Arizona standards it was fine. (Heck I'm from Seattle) Long story short, I was really impressed with this location!
(4)
James N.
Came for first time this Joe s crab Shack and my experience was beyond amazing. From the moment we entered the door till we left the staff made us feel special. Our server Reem went above and beyond so we can have amazing experience at Joe s crab shack. As far as food and drink goes it was really good. Thank you everyone for making our experience great. I can't wait to come back!!!!
(5)
Rita F.
With a bigger crowd service is always a challenge but the young lady did ok. Mama of course got cold food but they recooked it. My shrimp stuffed with lobster had no lobster but the shrimp was good. Little tiny cup of cole slaw - so good thing i got a lot of potato chips. Highlight of dinner was mama's red velvet cake.
(3)
Tracey L.
I lived in Maryland for 20 years and I love steamed crab legs. This place was very good and I am so glad that I went despite some of negative reviews. I have wanted to goto this place for years, but have not because I don't live very close to either of the locations and my husband does not like eating at chain restaurants. Our waitress, Elyse, was very nice and gave us great recommendations for dinner selections. The Bloody Mary was delicious and they put a crab leg in the drink as garnish! The service was relatively quick for seating and service. I did hear one of the waitresses say they weren't very crowded that particular evening. The serving amounts were ample. There was a crowded table next to us and I noticed they stopped talking for a good 15 minutes when their food first arrived. That's usually a good sign of a good meal. My entire family enjoyed this place and we will be going back.
(4)
Sandra R.
Decided to give this Joes Crab Shack one more try. The staff is always friendly but the food is less than spectacular. This visit was a pleasant surprise. I had the island steak and shrimp. It had a nice sweetness and was cooked the way I ordered it. Nice job!
(3)
Lorna W.
This is our go to restaurant for big, family style meals. Our family of six orders three steamer pots and three appetizers and we leave happy. Last night we took our pop for his 70th birthday and Joes did not let us down. Our waitress was very attentive and pleasant. The food was a bit on the cool side but we were hungry so no one complained. I love the sausage which is an odd thing to say about a seafood restaurant but there it is. The crab is lush and there is plenty of melted butter. Joes is well kept despite its casual atmosphere. Tables were clean and well stocked. It's a bit pricey. I have to be honest. $170 for 8 people eating family style. But it's not often that we go so it's certainly a treat.
(4)
L B.
wow..where to begin...I guess it's really my fault for thinking a chain could do shrimp and grits but the photo looked so good...sucker. When the food finally arrived it was in a cast iron pan and was luke warm..the biscuit was a hockey puck, the shrimp was super gritty...gross.The grits had a weird texture, more like over processed polenta. I thought I could just eat the grits on the second round, they were hot but terrible, I tried hot sauce...that didn't work, it was suppose to have sausage which was exactly 2 small pieces that I had to look for and tasted like processed hot dog. So I paid for the service, left hungry and went somewhere else...how sad never again Joe.
(1)
Laura L.
My mom suggested going here tonight and although I was not really enthused, I went along for the ride. My parents really like this place in general. They come here pretty often. The service was slow, which is odd because we got here before six p.m. on a Friday night and the place was pretty dead. We did not leave until after 7:30 and we are fast eaters. The service was also... annoying. I'm not the type to like places where they dance or sing. Beyond that annoyance... the server called me "Sweetie" and "Sweetheart,' neither of which I welcomed or appreciated... especially coming from someone younger than me. If she was in her sixties, maybe it would not have bothered me. It just came off as condescending. I know I look young, but stick to calling the kids "Sweetie" and not the adults. THANK YOU. As far as the food, the appetizer was good. My stepdad liked his crab steampot. My mom ordered my kiddo two kids' meals (that's another story) and my kiddo just ate her mac n' cheese (likely Kraft). I had the fish and shrimp. Fried shrimp, fried fish and fried... fries. When my food arrived, it was just dropped without anyone asking if we needed anything else. We did, but we figured the waitress would come back to ask us within a couple minutes. I like to eat shrimp and fish with lemon and I needed ketchup for my fries. I did not see the waitress for more than 10 minutes. By the time she returned with my condiments, my food was cold. The fish in my meal was just gross. I ate one bite and could not eat any more of it. The shrimp was fine. The manager came by a couple times to check on us, but even seeing our empty glasses did not offer to get us refills. We had waited for more than 15 minutes for drinks before our server refilled them. My mom waited longer for her water refill. In fact, the server forgot it twice. I won't be coming here again unless my folks beg! I typically can't stand eating at national chain restaurants and this one was no exception.
(2)
Mikey R.
The Applebee's of seafood with all the ambiance of a Costco. Waitress was friendly. Lobster was a little overcooked. Our appetizer came late so they gave it to us for free. I can't complain.
(2)
Keri F.
The food here is absolutely amazing!!!! The people are nice and at the time I came it was fast and quiet. (4:30 pm Tuesday.) The crab nachos were awesome as well as the calamari. A++ in my book!!
(5)
Randy M.
This is our go to place for big family dinners they have no problem taking in tables of 9 and bigger and its a good place for kids to kinda be themselves without everyone staring at you and the crab buckets are to die for!
(4)
Leslie D.
Ate here the day after Christmas because I did not want to cook. Our food was surprisingly good for this chain restaurant. I had snow, king and queen legs. Steamed perfectly.Hubby had a big fried platter and he liked it. So why 3 stars? Well, my dish wad 31 dollars, and while this is seafood, I feel this a little overpriced for 1and a 4th lbs. Of crab legs. (More shell than meat) There was also an issue with dessert but it was taken care of by the manager. Service was 5 stars but I am not sure we would return just because it is so pricey. Our bill was 78 dollars and I feel like the Angry crab is just as good amd cheaper.
(3)
Nichole G.
I took my mom here for an early mothers day lunch. Our server was Cody who was nice but didn't bother letting us know there was a special going on. I overheard other servers telling their tables. We ordered the classic sampler the dip and the balls of fire were delicious but the calamari was chewy and there was some kind of clam strips that were extremely tough. I ordered the arctic steampot. The shrimp corn and potatoes were awesome but the lobster was super overcooked and tough and the queen crab was so over cooked I couldn't crack the shell because it was so rubbery. The crab meat inside did taste good what little of it was there. My mom had the main grill and her lobster was way overcooked and rubbery and didn't looked grilled at all. She said her shrimp was good and the dirty rice was good as well. We split an crumble with ice cream for dessert that was really amazing. I dont know why the seafood was so bad this visit I wish I could get some of the money back. I did not get what I paid for which ended up being $86 not including the tip.Previous visit was amazing, what happened. Sorry mom
(2)
Pete H.
I suffered minor food poisoning eating here. It was a Saturday night and I ordered King Crab Legs and a Sangria. The crab legs itself was old. It tasted old, but did not have any strange smells so I figured it was okay. I figured this is Arizona, I can't get fresh seafood here so I settled for mediocre tasting food. That was fine because from reading the reviews, I didn't expect much. What I didn't expect was that the food was beyond bad. I stomach turned right after I finished my last bite. Usually this is a sign the food is pretty bad. I had indigestion for the next few hours. Minor problems, I figured. I woke up feeling pretty awful. I took some natural and prescription antibiotics in the afternoon and only then did I start to feel better. The service was very good. Bartender and staff were very friendly. I've been a fan of Joe's Crab Shack from back in Dallas and Fort Lauderdale. Those locations were always packed to the bone on a weekend night. I had greatly enjoyed the seafood there and have never gotten sick eating there before. This particular location is different. Crab was totally off and the place looked rather vacant for a Saturday night from 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Maybe the other customers learned their lesson already? Not worth risking my health here again. I gave this two stars because at Joe's, at least the staff is positive and friendly. You can count on that.
(2)
Donica A.
Today we stopped in for a few drinks after being here last week and being surprised at how great the happy hour is at this location. If you sit at the bar and get Cynthia count yourself lucky! Great service. Drinks are priced right and the food comes out quickly. Ive seen the bad reviews but I just dont get that. 2 times in 2 weeks and I am a happy camper at this hapoy hour.
(5)
Bekah S.
Dirty table, bathroom, silverware and plates. The appetizers came out cold and sloppy. The potatoes were undercooked. Not a fan.
(1)
E B.
In my opinion you go to a crab shack, and you get crab! And the crab there is excellent, get the QUEEN CRAB IN RAJUN CAJUN, you wont be disappointed However if you're that one person whose dragged along for the ride there are of plenty of non-seafood items on the menu that are just as good. Servers are very friendly and knowledgeable, just ask them their suggestions they are more than happy to explain things to you. Weekdays are great for Joe's, they have happy hour specials at the bar, and no wait time. The weekends may be a different story, obviously more people go out on the weekends and it can get pretty busy, so waiting longer should be expected, just be patient and have a good time I give this place 5 stars because service bends over backwards to make you happy, and if your food doesn't come out right or burnt they usually replace and give you something else or extras.
(5)
Heimlich M.
Disappointed. The battered clam strips were great. The snow crab was pretty good. The king crab was pretty bad (it's maybe my favorite food but this was poor enough I didn't even finish it.). The lobster was small and over cooked. Didn't finish it either. The kid at the bar that served me was great.
(2)
Carlesha O.
OK so this place lost stars for a couple of reasons. First off, both my husband and I ordered the same thing, Fish and Chips. My husband's fish was great, however mine was slightly burnt and just down right gross. This is because they fried my fish with old grease which made it dark brown and burnt. The coleslaw is really watery which makes it difficult to eat. We also ordered an appetizer, the bucket of shrimp which was awesome and the seasoning was to die for. Judy the server was superb and we were even greeted by the manager and served by him personally. When I informed them about my food they gave me two gift cards for free appetizers for my next visit which was great. The service was 5 stars but I had to deduct 2 points for inconsistency of meal quality. I would come back but only if they get their cooks to use fresher ingredients.
(3)
C H.
We went to Joe's for a friend's birthday (at her request). The service was ok, but the food was ...not awesome at all. We all ordered Steamers ('cause they seemed like fun). They're not terrible ...but it seemed like they were all pre-made somewhere far away and not as fresh as they could have been. It was a fun place with lots of potential ...but unrealized potential during our visit.
(2)
Bruce K.
I wasn't impressed not even the slightest, I am from Boston so I am spoiled when it comes to fresh amazing seafood spots. The clams where the size of peas which is what ruined it for me the most. The clam strips where nothing more that a batch of fried batter. I know moving out to the desert I would be giving up my love for seafood on a regular basis, and only being able to indulge when I visit home. I figured i would at least give it a try,but It will probably be the one an only time I ever disappoint myself like this again. P.S stop adding New England names to to your menu items because its not even comparable to the greatness of back home recipes.
(2)
Valerie M.
Marg was good, sandwich was okay, service was alright but OMG the kitchen is S. L. O. W... Really now, more than 45 minites to wait. Shame. After looking at our watches and determining the time my husband arrived and when the order actually had been taken it was closer to an hour. One last thing that sticks out is the patio umbrella situation. Four tables, at least three umbrella stands, but only two umbrellas. I had asked if we could get an umbrella for our table since we had been there more than an hour before our food arrived and it was noticeably HOT. Being in uncomfortable conditions doesn't make for happy campers. And waiting an unreasonable amount of time for the food doesn't help. Would have spoke highly of server had she jumped on bringing an umbrella over from a recently cleared table but that didn't happen, no, we got up and got that cement base holder and rolled it over and pulled the umbrella and got that set up. And did ANY of the staff offer to lend a hand?! Hmpf. Yeah, right. Fix your patio too cuz it sounds like a few of those boards are gonna break. They're definitely a hazard to walk on even if they don't break.
(2)
Tom W.
I love this place but wow. Service couldn't be more disorganized. I was told two hr wait for table. Took 50 min. Then I get table and nearly 40 min later no food still. Manager looks lost. It's freezing on here. Turn the ac off please. Bar tried to charge me for things I didn't order. Tables are sitting empty and unclean with people waiting in line to sit. ? No direction. A rudderless ship. Hope the food makes the last 90 min of sitting and waiting worth it Hmmmmmmmm wait wait wait.
(2)
Nick W.
Been few a few times. Never great service, however tonight we were seated right away. ( a very slow night. Almost empty) We waited 20 mins. And no one ever showed up to get our drinks. So we got up and left. We handed out menus back. Told them our wait. They said sorry. But clearly didn't care. This is poorly managed and probably why it was slow on a Saturday night. We won't be back.
(1)
Amy L.
Wayyyyyyy too over priced. The food was good, but not good enough for how much it costs! Next time we'll just go to the casino for less money and way more crab!
(1)
Jackie B.
The food is very good, however the service is rather slow. They brought us a drink to share and it was too sweet. We waited 10 minutes to trade it in for 2 beers. Wish they'd be a little more attentive.....
(3)
Bill B.
Service has been a wee bit slow. Bad luck is table/waitress. Hope the food is better.
(2)
K B.
Used to be good back around...1999-2000 or so. I had great memories and used to love the food there. However, more recently a bf who had heard me make good comments about the food, took me there and the food was not good at all. It was edible, but there was more of a "fishy" not fresh taste this time. I know not to expect most seafood in AZ to be as fresh as if we were on the beach, but it used to be great. They no longer had some of the menu items they used to. It just wasn't impressive and certainly didn't live up to the memories I had. Good news is I no longer crave it and have to travel across town and spend the money to go there. :)
(2)
Valerie V.
The service was good but unfortunately the food really upset my stomach (the crab). This was not my first time here and I've never had an issue before but this time around it's bad. Not only that but when I asked for a beer it took 20 minutes for the bar to say they were all out. So when I asked for another beer it was an additional 10 for them to tell me they were out of that too. Finally I settled for what was in special. The waitress was really nice hence the 3 stars but after these bubble guts I don't think I'll be back.
(3)
Jim G.
My wife and I have been going to Joe's Crab shack since they opened on Southern. We always order the Dungeness crab with the BBQ dry rub seasoning it's yummy. We have been going for so long that the menu has changed a bit. In the past coleslaw was always included in all the meals and when it changed they told us to just ask for it and they would bring it with dinner. Last week we went for the Dungeness as always (it's the most expensive item on the menu). When we asked for the coleslaw the server asked the general manger (the old grumpy guy Mike) who said I've worked here for 2 years and never heard of it being served with the Crab and said no to our request. The server said coleslaw was $2:50.....we said no thanks. Our food arrives with a full ear of corn that tasted like the corn they feed to cows, horrible grainy...ate one bit and that was enough. Then moved on to the new potatoes and they were not cooked fully, hard and bland, strike 2, during this time the GM Mike came by and we told him our story about the cold slaw and with discuss in his eye walked away. He came back in a few minutes with the Cole slaw and it was great, although it was served in a ketchup sized paper cup maybe 4 ounces with a cost of about .27 cents. We heard the manger at the table behind us and when he asked how everything was 3 different persons said the corn was bad and his response was that he knew it wasn't very good. Now he comes to our table and asks about our meal and we told him about the corn and he just shrugged it off and left. Now when you have that many people complaining about the food you should do something but they did nothing. I remember years ago this place was always rocking on Saturday night with singing and dancing and birthdays balloons. They did not sing or dance during our meal at all, it was fun to watch the servers do the line dance but things have changed. As for me I'm going to keep the $85 and would have been more if they had not aggravated me and my wife in my pocket maybe I'll try a the Keg
(2)
David H.
I drove to Joe's after seeing the "Southern Fried Maine Lobster" commercial and now wished I would have stayed home and made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What you see in the commercial [lots of lightly breaded lobster] is absolutely not what you get......Sure, if you enjoy dragging a mound of overly seasoned breading through equally over-seasoned butter, then go nuts! But if you are looking for lobster, you'll need to go "Indiana Jones" on your plate of food...... and if you're really lucky, you'll find lobster...............but only the tips of the lobster claws and a few random claw knuckles. I 'dug' through two plates [I sent the 1st one back] and after an exhaustive effort, came up with maybe 3 ounces of actual lobster surrounded by over a pound of breading. The mac & cheese was good, as was the corn, but you will not find a more cut-and-dried case of bait and switch anywhere [pun intended]. So if you are looking for lobster......look somewhere else.
(1)
Lisa T.
The wait was not long to get a table, our server Morgan was great, friendly and attentive. The food was amazing. We always get the steam pots, we tried the bucket of shrimp, which was great. A few new menu items, next time we will be more adventurous and try something new. My go to is always the Rajun Cajun, and have never been disappointed. The staff is all great and interactive. The GM Steve has always stopped by our table to check on our experience. I go to both locations, but this one is my favorite. It is always a very welcoming experience.
(5)
Josh B.
Bad experience. We were seated quickly, and for a Friday night, it was busy but not packed. At first our waitress was attentive, but once we place our order, we hardly saw her. It took an HOUR to get our food after ordering, and in the mean time, I was never offered a refill on my water, nor was anyone else at our table. Once the food started coming, they would bring two entrees (there were eight of us), and then it would take another five minutes or more and they'd come out with two more, and so on. All I ordered was fries, and I got my food about ten minutes after everyone else did. When everyone FINALLY had their food, we were short one side order, one person received the wrong side order, and my wife's salad was not made according to how she ordered it. When she was done eating, I was going to finish her salad, but after a few bites, I had to stop; it was just bad, absolutely no flavor at all. They knew our service was bad too, because without us saying a word, the manager came to our table and apologized for the slow service, at which point I also pointed out all the mistakes on our orders, and she took 10% off of our bill. I appreciate her attempt to fix the bad service we received, but I won't be coming back.
(1)
Sam S.
I enjoyed this restaurant. Good atmosphere, service and food. The tables were a bit too close together for my tastes. Also, it was slightly pricey. A good experience overall, and I will be going back.
(4)
Dan C.
Went last Saturday 7/20/13. Greeted, sat down all pretty normal. Waited a little while to be greeted by waitress, who was really nice. We ordered, crab stuffed shrimp for her and I had the jumbo shrimp. When it arrived I found that the shrimp were not jumbo but almost tiny! When I mentioned this to the waitress she brought me 6 more which was nice and all but still not the jumbo shrimp that the menu had mentioned. This restaurant has gone from really good to just ok in my opinion. The wait help were all pleasant but the food has just gone down hill.
(2)
James S.
Stopped by for happy hour today and I must say this is one of the better happy hours. When you think it couldn't get better, come here on a Tuesday. On Tuesday, their special are two dollars hence the theme Twosday. After 3 hurricanes, I can honestly say my hour is happy...lol.
(5)
William H.
Never had better crab! And I come from California! Recommend this place to everyone!!!
(5)
Elina A.
I have always liked Joe's Crab Shack. They have a great happy hour from 4-7pm half off all appetizers and great drink specials.
(4)
Ty R.
Love the new lobster bucket!
(5)
Saydi C.
Went inside with my boyfriend around 10pm on a Thursday and it was a ghost town. Sat ourselves at the bar and waited five minutes. Saw two servers walk into the bathroom but no one greeted us and no bartender appeared, nobody came to talk to us! Left and went somewhere else! RED FLAG.
(1)
Dolores G.
[2.5 rounded up to 3 at best] My increasingly rare visits here just further add to my disappointment. I find myself here with family or friends who are still convinced they have to stop in here while in the Valley. I have no issue with the environment or the service. What I do have an issue with is the food quality. Unless you like your seafood fried or are just here for some apps and drinks, there are better places in the Valley for seafood for the price. Although, I wouldn't get the occasional employee flash mob dance routine. My last trip here I ordered one of their steamer pots with the seafood, corn on the cob, potatos and a sausage. The pot I chose had crab and shrimp. The crab was meh and the steamed shrimp were super over cooked. I could do better at the frozen food section at the local grocery. Next time I am invited to join folks here I may just pass on the invite.
(3)
R K.
Service was ok. Food was ok. Didn't impress me. Didn't seem fresh. Flavors seemed to be boiled out of it, and then covered with seasoning. I think it would retained the flavor better if it was steamed. Just my opinion.
(3)
Emily P.
So this is chain. I may have set my expectations a bit high. I get that. But bibs? Where you've written things on them I can't read? Not cool folks, not cool. The crab was excellent, but at 30 bucks for four big legs, it seems rather steep. Perhaps I'm still an undergraduate at heart when it comes to my checkbook. Plus, yes I know we're in the middle of the desert, but come now folks - it can't cost that much. Over all I give you 3 stars. Because in the desert I have yet to find better seafood, however I think I just need to take more trips places where seafood is more prevalent.
(3)
Mike A.
This is the 3rd time I've been to this location and the food & service is always top notch. We went for Valentine's Day earlier this year and they rocked our socks off. This time I was on vacation and the wife 7 I decided to have lunch at Joe's and we couldn't be happier. We went around 1 PM. and we got seated right away and our server Tara was awesome. She recommended a Pina Colada drink served in a whole, cored out frosted pineapple. This drink was the bomb and if you love Pina Coladas you need to order this. We started out with a sampler appetizer and a bowl of clam chowder. I then ordered a Arctic Steam pot and my wife ordered the East Coast Fish platter. No matter what time of day you come, there food is always fresh and tasty. I love crab legs and I can't find a better place in town to enjoy crab legs that aren't hard to break or the shells being soft from over cooking. I love this location so much. Keep up the good work Joe's!
(4)
Tyler H.
Worst restaurant experience I have ever had. The waitress was absolutely terrible. After not being able to answer any of the questions about her menu, I got tired of waiting for a refill, so I walked to the server station, and asked another server to get more water. Then wanting to pay for my bland shrimp order and leave this dump took absolutely forever. Definitely go somewhere else to waste money on crappy service and food.
(1)
Jay P.
Used to go to this Joe's location somewhat regularly back in 2005-2008 until we relocated. Long story short, we moved back home in August. Once we got back and settled, we made a point to return to our old hangout. Needless to say, while the outside remained the same, much else has changed. Inside is completely different and menu wise it is substantially different. Mainly, prices have hiked to a level where Joe's has become a "once in a blue moon" visit instead of a regularly visited establishment like it used to be. The service was very good however, although I wish out server would have had exact prices of the menu items. We were told the shark bite drink for two was $9; once we got it and began drinking it, we were informed it actually was $15. $6 may seem like no big deal, but it certainly would have made a difference on whether we chose to buy it or not. When we have drank out of it, we can't exactly say "oops, no thanks." Other than this, Joe's is a nice little establishment. The manager Scott seems to genuinely care about you having a good experience, the food was good as always, everyone was extremely nice and my kids enjoyed themselves. No complaints otherwise than the ones listed above. Price is a bit steep and the staff should be a little more aware of pricing.
(3)
N C.
Took 15 minutes for hush puppies and 50 minutes for food. Place not even busy. Went to the one by Mills and food came out 15 mins. And manager brought the food out like he did something. ... No silverware also.
(1)
Masha Z.
Pretty good food, farily okay service. Very expensive buckets, jesus. I can understand -- we're hundreds of miles away from an ocean -- but still! Incredibly overpriced. The bib this was a pretty good idea, since there's no nice way to really eat crab. As someone with arachnophobia, the crab legs gave me the heeby jeebies. That aside, the service was meh, the food was meh, and the price was crazy.
(3)
Martell H.
We sampled four appetizers, one bowl of soup and two entrees at Joe's Crab Shack. Our bill, excluding beverages, tax and tip, came to about $62. Not bad! Pros - Reasonable prices, Kid friendly Cons - * Food is nothing to write home about * Not vegetarian friendly * Gift shop on premises Description * There's a quite large playground in front of the restaurant, and a small arcade on the inside. * Joe's Crab Shack has a gift shop in the front of the restaurant. * The decor is comprised of wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor knick knacks, watchamacallits, and doodads. * I hear that in the evenings the music and the servers add to the campy ambience. Not so at lunch. * Pretty extensive kids menu. * If you go to Joe's Crab Shack and you don't have a coupon, your AAA card will get you a discount.
(3)
Doug S.
The wife and I went last night to this restaurant and to our amazement were seated immediately (never a good sign.) We immediately noticed how HOT the place was and we asked the waitress about it. She told us and I quote: "We can't lower the A/C to anything below 79 or it freezes up." Well let me tell you it was every bit of at least 95 degrees in there. After a few tentative looks from the wife we decided to get up and go to the OTHER Joe's on Baseline. It was much much cooler there and we had a great time. We love the crab pots and the salmon sunrise. We hate the heat and won't be coming back to the location on Southern unless they fix the A/C.
(1)
Antonio D.
I grew up and spent most of my life in tempe, and have passed by this location many times always thought about going in. My first time, was horrible. It was a tuesday and really slow. We sat outside. Our server took for ever to bring us our drinks and completely forgot my beer. I cancelled my beer and figured id just order it from the bartender. When I go to the bar, no one is bartending (hmmm wondrer if thats why drinks took forever). Find out my outside server is actually the bartender! Shes supposed to handle the drinks for the entire restaurant and take on outside tables? Just horrible, when we ordered our food, we waited 45 minutes before we decided to jist cancel the order. Management looked confused and did nothing to help besides offering to comp our food. I don't want free food, I just want food. Worst experience ive hlever had, and will not ever be giving Joe's crab shack another try. How has the place been there so long?
(1)
Mary H.
Great, fun atmosphere, and good food! What more could you ask for?!
(4)
Michael C.
Downhill is the key word - I don't know what happened to this particular location but I am shocked they stay open. The crab cakes are abysmal and just about everything else is at best mediocre. Spare yourself and go elsewhere.
(2)
KC M.
We have been to Joe's several times and have never been disappointed. The food is very good ~ the steamer pots offer lots of good food, cooked perfectly healthly. Each time we have had very nice, friendly and efficient waitresses. We like Joe's ~ it's a little pricey ~ but the portions are huge. Blessings : ) KC
(4)
Karen W.
You know you are in for trouble when your nose is immediately hit with a whiff of overpowering fishiness when you first set foot into a restaurant. Nevertheless, we still decided to eat here, and like many have said before, for the price you pay, the quality is lackluster. Service was equally as lackluster, despite us being only 1 of 2 tables having dinner that night. I'd probably steer clear of this restaurant, at least for this location.
(2)
Tim J.
Save your time and money, unless you are going for the appetizers and drinks. The appetizers we had were really good, but our main course was sub-par and nothing spectacular. How do you screw up fish and chips? They managed and served the most mediocre crab cake I have ever had. Unfortunately, this place is nothing special, mediocre at best.
(2)
Laura M.
I've been to this location twice. Once four years ago and more recently just this past weekend. I had family in town who live in Tucson but decided to come to Tempe for the day to sightsee. We settled on Joe's as a place to meet for a little convo and noshing before they headed back home. Upon approaching the front door, it swung open and a young man greeted us cheerfully and welcomed us to Joe's. We immediately noticed our family members already seated in a corner booth, so we waved and headed in their direction. The hostess was sweet and polite as I explained it looked like they already had a table for us. We barely sat down and the waitress came over to take our drink order. She was back in MAYBE 2 minutes and wanted to know if we wanted appetizers or were ready to order. We asked for a few more minutes. Honestly, she gave us just that...FOUR minutes and she was back. I think this happened a handful of time before we actually were ready to order. Although the interruptions were annoying, she was really nice and was doing her best to offer great customer service. Now for the food. My husband and two family members had a bucket of king crab, with two potatoes and a piece of corn. They were all in heaven. Said it was really delicious. I had the coconut prawns with a side of fish--which was supposed to be a beer battered fish from fish and chips. I got Talapia. I asked for beer battered fish and got this pathetic little piece of cod (I hope!) with a light dusting of bread crumbs on it. My meal, although I devoured every bit of it, left me rather dissapointed. The shrimp were, well....shrimpy. I was thinking I was getting PRAWNS--nice, large, butterflied prawns like in the picture. Instead I got these itty, bitty, teeny, tiny SHRIMP that were butterflied to make them look bigger. I will say the french fries weren't bad--but who messes up FRENCH FRIES?? I won't be returning here again. Not to this location at least. Being from Washington, I am a bit of a seafood snob (which I really hate to admit, let alone BE) so I know FRESH, DELICIOUS seafood. That isn't what I got at Joe's. Like some other reveiwers mentioned...Pappadeaux's is MUCH better. Pass on Joe's and head there instead.
(2)
Holly R.
The staff was really friendly. The atmosphere was really fun. The buckets were good but I was a bit disappointed when I cracked open all those crabs and got barely any meat. But then again, when I did get some, it was delicious =)
(4)
Melissa B.
We have been regular customers here for several years and have always gotten the steampot for 2. The last time we were here we noticed that the food content had been cut in half...but the price has remained the same. We won't be coming back.
(1)
Leslie B.
So disappointed! Paid about $25 for tasteless Dungeness crab legs. Even the butter was tasteless. Just awful! ... And the karaoke sucked as well. Who has karaoke at 5pm?
(1)
Kay G.
I have been to his place twice thus far and excited to go back! Seated quickly, good food, and nice atmosphere for the family. I also got to have my picture put on website, totally think that this place was friendly and had good customer service! keep Rockin on Joe's Crabshack!
(4)
Felix G.
Love the meals they Are the best sea food in the Arizona area
(5)
Kerstin M.
Damn some of the gift cards I get as a teacher. I feel obligated to use them, even if I'd really rather not. The $30 I just got for Joe's Crab Shack was such a dilemma. So Hubby and I went yesterday since we would be in the area anyway. Our expectations were pretty low, so some elements of the meal actually met or even exceeded those expectations. We had the seafood fondue appetizer, which was OK, but complete garbage compared to Pappadeaux's. Hubby had the shrimp po-boy which came in a traditional presentation but with fried shrimp that he described as one step above cocktail shrimp. I myself would not have taken it so far, and out of pity, I gave him a bunch of superior shrimp from my platter. I had a reasonably decent mix of coconut, Parmesan panko, and seasoned fried shrimp. I also made the wise choice of asking for a sub of onion rings instead of fries. Hubby's fries were inedible, as if they had been triple fried. Hard as a rock. My onion rings were thin and mostly crispy. At least they tasted fresh. When the bill came, we were rather shocked. It was pretty pricey at over $40 for lunch. Frankly, I wasn't all that thrilled about spending nearly $20 (with tip) after my gift card was applied. When you consider that we would have gotten a far superior meal at Pete's Fish and Chips for about $12, Joe's is a sad place- no wonder they were practically empty. UPDATE: I just returned from a wedding where I happened to run into a former student who works at the Joe's at Arizona Mills Mall. She said her store has been rated the best in the Southwest, whereas this Southern & McClintock store is just not very good.
(2)
Megan B.
I love this place! Staff is nice, place is neat, and food is great!! I love their great balls of fire app. But their bucket of snow crab legs with the garlic herb seasoning is to die for!!
(5)
Lisa C.
We love Joe's Crab Shack. We make the trip down from Scottsdale at least twice a month to enjoy Joe's wonderful Steam Pots. A family favorite is the Lobster Daddy Steam Pot. Even our 4 year old son loves Joe's. Always a happy, family friendly environment.
(4)
James M.
This is not anything like the Joes Crab Shack you'll find in Anahiem, California. Read on... After about 30 minutes waiting to get seated (in a nearly empty facility) and get menus our group of 6 were greeted by a half awake Joe's Crab Shack employee. She forgot my drink because she "Didn't write it down." After the staff danced around to "Car Wash" like they were zombies our waitress took our order. I ordered the Steak and Shrimp a 17 dollar meal. Steak well done. After a total of 1 hour walking into the restaurant I get my meal. The steak was dry and tasteless. I concede that well done to some restaurant means cooked beyond belief, but usually the staff can give you heads up on stuff like that. This was not the case. So with a bad dry taste in my mouth I say, don't go to this Joe's Crab Shack. You'll be better off going to the Claim Jumper next door.
(1)
Leslie J.
Used to be one of my fave spots to enjoy, after yesterday, we won't be back. The host quickly went over the "NEW" menu with us, and recommended the Salmon Orleans. So i ordered it, asking for the salmon to be cooked medium, quickly told "NO, it's against kitchen policy". So, now disappointed, i just order only a bowl of Clam Chowder for my meal. The bowl has decreased by at least 1/2 in the size that it used to be (this was supposed to be my MEAL, i didn't order a cup), and the potatoes were raw and crunchy. As i'm picking them out of my bowl, the manager came up to us (fairly late into our meal) and apologized about not being able to prepare the salmon as ordered. Then she goes to explain that they can't cook it less than well done because it's FROZEN and packaged. Really? Isn't this a seafood restaurant? I then told her that the potatoes are raw. The manager then offered to cook me "another bag of clam chowder". I just looked up in disgust, now. The clam chowder, which had always been one of the yummiest dishes there, is PREPACKAGED? If i wanted frozen fish and prepacked chowder, i could have saved money and gotten similar quality at Long John Silvers. My husband got the Grilled Malibu Shrimp. Average to say the least, surrounded with dry, mushy, over cooked (was frozen) broccoli. The best thing that we were served was the Applesauce cup that my son got as a side for his Popcorn shrimp. The service wasn't too great either. It was about noon when we got there, and a total of 4 small tables. So, there isn't much of an argument as to why we had empty tea glasses most of the time we were there. The manager did end up taking care of our meal, but knowing what i do now, we just will not ever be back. Good going corporate Joe's.
(1)
Robert A.
How do restaurants like Joe's Crab Shack thrive? Let me tell you a little story. It might sound like I'm complaining about my (future) in-laws, but I'm not. I promise. My fiance's parents love the Crab Shack. Every year, we all spend a week in Coronado, California for a much-needed escape from the desert. Every year, we find ourselves driving across the bridge into San Diego in search of a crappy seafood dinner courtesy of Joe and his under-motivated teenage staff. Every year, my meal both amazes and disappoints me. How awful is a restaurant when it just keeps getting worse? I am totally certain that the kitchen contains nothing but enormous bags of frozen seafood and deep-fryers the size of swimming pools. One time, we had a waiter that kept calling all the men "bro." I am not your bro. I am paying for and eating food that would get even a Red Lobster cook fired and, as such, am entitled to no less than five-star treatment. If there is anything positive to say, it is that the bibs they hand out to people eating crab are HILARIOUS. I've got the pictures to prove it. I'll visit the Shack once per year out of obligation. I'll even be (sort of) happy to do it, considering those close to me seem to love it and I'm not going to rain on their parade. You will never ever ever ever ever ever find me at one in Arizona, however. Ever!
(1)
Erica O.
I worked in the plaza where this Joe's Crab Shack is located for a year and a half, and never visited there once. The "Free Crab Tomorrow" sign brought a smile to my face too whenever I'd see it, but the word of mouth from people I worked with was that the food was mediocre. And they were right. Today was my friend's birthday and she was looking for some seafood in the area since we were taking a lunch break. Pete's Fish and Chips was thrown around as an option, but she decided on Joe's Crab Shack. Seeing how it's her day for a super happy birthday extravaganza of fun, I conceded. And all I have to report on the experience is coupled with a shrug and an, "Eh." If you like the corporate atmosphere of TGI Fridays or Bennigan's or any of those other places where they put shit on the walls, you'll probably enjoy Joe's Crab Shack. You'll be prepared for the pitfalls as well. It's overpriced and under-seasoned. It's dried out when fried up. It's unoriginal and bland. But if you douse everything with malt vinegar and tartar sauce, I contend that even cardboard would go down smooth. I've been here several times on others' bill, and have left with the same lackluster impression and a belly full of grease. I've had the combos, fried and grilled, the crab sandwich, the fish and chips and the crab dip, and I really can't even rank them in order of best to worst because nothing stands out as stellar or atrocious. It's all just...there. Plus their margaritas are weak. Eh.
(2)
Joyce F.
i must have low standards compared to the other reviews for joe's. i ordered a caesar salad and thought it was just okay. i'm a fan of the king crab bucket with joe's bbq seasoning and 3 small potatoes and 1 large corn. not that it was enough food but i asked for a sausage too. i can't have a bucket without sausage. i was pleased with my main course. jerrod was our server and i thought he was good especially when he ran out to the parking lot to catch us because we forgot our to go box. the karaoke singing was something i would avoid next time but would return.
(4)
Kristin C.
I'm just not that impressed. The menu isn't that great. The prices are higher than they should be for what you get. They atmosphere is fun in a "this was designed to look like every other fun location" kind of way - but completely lacks it's sincerity. I've gone twice with someone who LOVES seafood, and her favorite restaurant is Red Lobster (Ultimate Feast every time...). Even she wasn't impressed. It didn't do anything for her. She said it appeared that the crab legs had been previously frozen and then re-heated too quickly (she thought maybe microwave). I don't cook, but she does more than regularly so I'm going to trust her on that one. We wanted to like it so we tried once more in case it was a bad night for both them and us and decided that really, this just wasn't it for us. Their "Free Crab Tomorrow" sign always makes me smile, but at least now I know to laugh at the joke and just keep on driving.
(2)
Anna M.
We stopped by for lunch on Sunday. The parking lot was packed with an old car show that benefited cancer research. We sat on the patio where the people watching and music was good. First off the server(Ashley) was great. We had the Seafood Fun-Do. It tasted better then it looked. We had really good long island iced teas (made with tea not coke, ask for it that way) which enhanced the whole experience. Then we split the original steam pot. Everything in it was good with the exception of the shrimp. They were not cleaned. I just don't like cleaning my shrimp at the table or biting into shrimp poo. The bibs were very handy in saving a trip to the dry cleaners. The food is messy and unpretentious. The napkins are a roll of brown paper towels. The atmosphere was good with the car show going on. I don't know how often I would come here but it was nice to sit outside and chow on some seafood.
(3)
Jai D.
Believe all the other reviewers on this one. They are all very accurate. Despite that, I decided to try it last night because it's close and we felt like seafood. Now the food is not so bad that it's inedible, but it's nothing incredible, and you can get much better elsewhere. And the guy who said the margaritas are weak, well I can say that the mojitos are very weak as well. Our waiter was too busy chatting and trying to hook up with the hostess than to wait his tables. Everything about this place is mediocre.
(2)
Peter H.
We went here when there was construction and they had a good happy hour. I returned today and everything was horrible. The Fat Tire tasted like Budweiser and there were no specials for food during happy hour. Fat Tire needs mixed gas not CO2. I told this to the bar tender but he didn't care. The food is just average, but you can buy a t-shirt with some STD innuendo.
(2)
Georgia R.
I'm with everyone else. Joe's Crab Shack isn't anything to write home about. The menu has the normal shrimp, crab and fish dishes on it, and pretty much everything is going to be deep fried and greasy. The only things on the menu I like are the 'Great Balls of Fire.' Don't laugh- they're really good. They're cheese balls stuffed with jalapeno and crab or shrimp and then they're deep fried. Delish. Other than that, I wouldn't come back to the Shack unless it was on somebody else's dime. I wouldn't pay for a meal there again.
(2)
Justin K.
Yikes.. I should have checked the Yelp before going here for my FIRST EVER CRAB LEGS EXPERIENCE. Is this place specifically designed to annoy? As we sat there eating very mediocre crab (it's not supposed to taste really fishy right?), the volume of the music doubled and all of the employees line danced to "COTTON EYED JOE" by Rednex which is possibly the most annoying song of all time. This lasted roughly two minutes and was followed by a Smashmouth song. To add to the annoyance factor, there are multicolored Christmas lights strewn throughout the restaurant and the staff wears tie-dye shirts. Thinking about it is giving me a headache. Would maybe go back as a joke. The hush puppies were good.
(1)
Rhino E.
This place is so great. The Food is fantastic, the service is Wonderful, this is my favorite place to go for CRAB CRAB CRAB. I recomend the King with boiled garlic seasoning. Also the seasonal crab is always a good call, try the Snow fire grilled for a treat ;-D
(5)
Jon C.
Joe's crab shack is the place you go for warm, some times fake, family friendly atmosphere . I my self have celebrated two of my own birthdays in the confines of this eatery. I particularly enjoy the joe's steam pots. A little pricey in my mind as none are under 20 dollars. Their good though considering that the seafood your eating had to take 10 hour truck ride to get on to your plate in the middle of a desert. With titles that involves words like "Cajun", "long Islander" and "Orleans" Joe's try's to sell culture to the urban sprawled and culture deprived suburbanites of the west. I Praise Joe's for their cleverness but it seems all to tacky eating the mussel and clam filled "Long Islander" while staring into a all to similar sea of brown housing tracts. The Steam Pots Besides their irony are simple consisting of the seafood that comes with the variation of the pot you chose, potatoes, sausage and generous amounts of melted butter. People Dog on Joe's steam pots for their lack of authenticity and that they have had better when their Grandma made home cooked crab when they where kids growing up in the boondocks of redneckville, Maine. Well i say unless you wanna back to grandmas house in redneckville I suggest you go to Joe's and relish their transplanted steam pots. Joe's is like many restaurant chains who try to inject culture to many culture less neighborhoods, sure the atmosphere is fake, the staff even faker , the food and the steam pots are just above mediocre but what more can you ask for your in the freakin desert!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Bill K.
When you order 33 shrimp for $11.99, you really have no one to blame but yourself. What are you expecting? Fresh, jumbo prawns straight out of the Atlantic? This is Joe's Crab Shack in Arizona. I had low expectations and they were basically met. The beer battered shrimp looked like the dried shrimp you'd find in a styrofoam ramen container, wetted up and semi-brought back to life. No biggie. The coconut ones were kinda yummy in a no-frills sort of way. Really sweet server and hey, you know what? I like this place. Just know what you're getting when you pay 36 cents per shrimp.
(3)Mela L.
I have visited joes a couple of times during lunch time & its never overcrowded. A really good place to have good attentive service and some seafood during lunch. They seat well (away from other parties) its spacious and has booths in different ends of the room. The management both male and female (Courtney) really live up to what a manager should be like. Beth, the waitress (with her pretty modest makeup) is by farthest the best waitress hands down!!!!! She is pleasant, doesn't take forever to check back and is a gem overall. She makes suggestions and aims to please. They are lucky to have her! I have, honestly, never been in a establishment where I continue to get treated the very same way all the time I pay a visit. It could be because when I visit it ain't that busy but still I love the acknowledgement! I hope every guest gets treated that very same way. The food is good but they def play a role in us coming back. Now the food, ain't fail us yet!!! We have tried a range from the crab tapers to the great seafood rolls to the calamari, the mussels, all have been seasoned so good & it always taste so bomb! The cooks are soooo consistent there. An the music, OMG, they have like the bomb.com 90's mix station. You will hear Brian McKnight to TLC there to a nice Joplin beat. Annnnnd to top it off, they even offer $2 bites (some come in a bed of fries) and every Thursday is 50% off drinks. I love this place.
(5)Diana D.
My entire family went last night. We are all east-coast lovers of fresh shellfish. I ordered the Lobster Daddy Feast. We had a very cranky 4 year old with us who was overtired. 'Nuff said about that. 1. Service was 5-star all the way. 5-stars for service! 2. The crab legs in the Lobster Daddy Feast were fresh and delicious. 5-stars. 3. The lobsters were not that good. They just didn't taste freshly steamed from live lobsters. They were slightly fishy as if they had been frozen. I usually eat all parts of the lobster, tamale, even those little legs... but not this time. 4. Full bar was good! Yay! I recommend you stay with shrimp and crab legs, or at least ask ahead if the lobsters are live right before steaming. I was going to do 3 stars, but really, most of the night was very good.... although I wasn't the one paying the check this time. :)
(4)Janelle E.
I have only been to Joe's crabshack one other time. I don't really remember how the food was the first time, but after eating here again I know why it's not memorable. On my latest visit I ordered a dish of crab stuffed shrimp. How awesome does that sound? Sadly, it was so bland! The night that we were there was Super Bowl night and the restaurant was nearly empty. So I was a little confused why our food took so long to come out. It took 45 minutes and it was only my husband and I at our table. We're the cooks watching the game instead of making our food? The food wasn't great and we waited too long. We won't be back.
(2)Marti S.
Nigga! This place is super flame! Pretty pricy but it does pay off in the long run. Everything is deliciously! The Ragin' Cajun tho is my favorite! Check it out!
(5)Monica O.
It was the 1st month of year and it was already kicking our ass so some coworkers wanted to get together for an happy hour/dinner and the place picked was Joe's Crab Shack, alright I'm in. I was lucky enough to work the early shift that day so another coworker and I headed off and got there around a quarter to 5, just in time for happy hour! 5 dollar drafts & apps! Hello!! So I ordered a blue moon or 2 or 4, whose counting lol and some crazy good crab dip. The crab dip was loaded with crab meat in a melted cream cheese & parmesan mix, it was great! Went well with the Blue Moon! Everyone arrived around 6pm so off to a table we went, I knew I wanted crab and that's what I went for! A bucket of Queen Crab but in the Cajun flavoring, came with French fries and hushpuppies, it was 1 ¼ pound of crab, and it was good! I enjoyed my dinner! Service was great, food was good! Great times were had!
(4)Jessica K.
Came in last night for dinner. We were quickly seated by the host and asked if we had ever been to Joes. We said no, and she said ok well your waiter will answer any questions you have. Ok, then why did you even ask us? Just seemed odd... I'm not a huge seafood fan so I opted for calm chowder, hush puppies and a side ceasar. The ceasar was the absolute worst salad I've ever had. Some of the lettuce was brown/black on the edges and I think they may have given me half a teaspoon of dressing. Disappointing. Hush puppies were super greasy and a little overcooked. A side order included 8 - way more than I expected. Others at the table really enjoyed their food! Our waiter was prompt and refilled our drinks quickly. I would suggest coming for lunch - cheap options. Or on Tuesday, all day, they have a whole $2 menu with lots of items.
(3)Juliana L.
Second time I eat from this chain, first time in this location. Drinks were weak, service was "okay", food was decent. I personally find this establishment overpriced and not even fresh enough. The seafood lacks a natural, well, seafood flare! Lol! Their seasoning is rather heavy, almost as if they are trying to hide a frozen food taste!!! Also, this location was oddly located by a loud street and not well decorated inside... Overall, not a great seafood lunch/dinner environment. We rather not come back....
(3)Julie S.
I love the calamari! The shrimp boil on the new patio menu is fabulous and plentiful! !
(3)MJ B.
We went to Joe's Crab Shack on Southern Ave for the first time last night for a birthday dinner. For a Tuesday night it was very empty but almost everyone was there for a bday celebration . Our waiter was Ian and extremely attentive and speedy. The food was excellent though I am glad for a good steak lol. Tuesday's are a great deal for select appetizers and drinks for $2. But do be wary of purchasing gift cards online as the bait and switch on the extra $5 promo for purchase is not good till another future visit. The waiters/waitresses do make a great performances for each birthday celebration !
(3)Audra J.
Good service, good crab and clams. The lobster bisque was gross and the fries were too salty by a mile.
(3)Bonnie W.
I've stayed away from this place because of the reviews, but its right down the street and my Mother wanted to go. It was Easter Sunday, 1 PM, so, it wasn't crowded at all. 2 of us had the Jumbo Bairdi Crab Boil and it was absolutely fantastic...meaty and sweet. Mom had the Jumbo Fried Shrimp plate and took half of it home...just great. Perhaps, it was because it wasn't that crowded that everything was fresh and service friendly and timely. I would not hesitate to go back! I didn't rate it as a 5 because "As good as it gets" only comes fresh out of the ocean...this was as close as you're going to get in Phoenix.
(4)Doug T.
We've always liked Joe's Crab shack and the one at the Mills is really loud so we decided to try this one. Anyways, it's the normal looking Joe's with merchandise to buy. The music isn't blasting so it was better and better atmosphere to eat at. The servers dance as usual for all the customers every once in awhile. To start off, we had the Classic Sampler which included fried calamari, Jalapeno balls, Tortilla chips with a Crab dip. The calamari was okay and the Jalapeño balls had a really nice kick to it and the crab dip was pretty good. Nothing great. Nothing to write home about. Also, my wife and son ordered the clam chowder. They always have to try everyone's chowder. This was probably the most disappointing chowder. I tried it and it didn't have a lot of taste plus it was luke warm. Not good. For dinner, I had the Artic Bay Steampot. It had Lobster, Crab legs, Shrimp, Sausage, potatoes, and corn on the cob. It was okay. Not a lot of taste. At the middle of my meal, everything was cold. Not a real fan. Seafood was okay. The sausage seemed like it had a hard skin and wasn't very tasty. The best part of the meal was the corn in the cob. My wife had the Spaghetti Lobster. It was served cold. So she didn't eat it. Wasn't at all impressed. The manager came by to ask us about our food and we told him that the clam chowder and spaghetti lobster was cold when we got it. He apologize and took it off our bill. Plus he gave use a few coupons for free appetizers. So as you can see, we didn't have a very pleasant experience today. Food was so so and cold. Not impressed at all. If we do ever come back, it probably won't be for a long time cause there's just too many place to try. Good Luck at this place.
(2)Aaron A.
Went for the snow crab, and my girlfriend got the queen crab, both absolutely amazing! It is definitely pricey stuff, but you also have to take into account the great quality with no close oceans. Service was great as well, our server zach was very friendly and attentive but didn't overstay or get in the way of us enjoying our meal. Hush puppies weren't my thing, but fries were good. :)
(4)Sisely H.
Went to Joes on Valentine's Day and it was PACKED. The guy at the booth told us the wait was an hour.. It could have been worse, the one at Az Mills had a two hour wait. So we waited, and the name was called twenty minutes early! I was really surprised. We were seated and Marina was our waitress. This was my first time at this location, and after reading all the horrible reviews, I was a little nervous. But Marina made us feel right at home, and definitely proved that you should see things yourself! Not the best seafood I've ever had, but for Arizona standards it was fine. (Heck I'm from Seattle) Long story short, I was really impressed with this location!
(4)James N.
Came for first time this Joe s crab Shack and my experience was beyond amazing. From the moment we entered the door till we left the staff made us feel special. Our server Reem went above and beyond so we can have amazing experience at Joe s crab shack. As far as food and drink goes it was really good. Thank you everyone for making our experience great. I can't wait to come back!!!!
(5)Rita F.
With a bigger crowd service is always a challenge but the young lady did ok. Mama of course got cold food but they recooked it. My shrimp stuffed with lobster had no lobster but the shrimp was good. Little tiny cup of cole slaw - so good thing i got a lot of potato chips. Highlight of dinner was mama's red velvet cake.
(3)Tracey L.
I lived in Maryland for 20 years and I love steamed crab legs. This place was very good and I am so glad that I went despite some of negative reviews. I have wanted to goto this place for years, but have not because I don't live very close to either of the locations and my husband does not like eating at chain restaurants. Our waitress, Elyse, was very nice and gave us great recommendations for dinner selections. The Bloody Mary was delicious and they put a crab leg in the drink as garnish! The service was relatively quick for seating and service. I did hear one of the waitresses say they weren't very crowded that particular evening. The serving amounts were ample. There was a crowded table next to us and I noticed they stopped talking for a good 15 minutes when their food first arrived. That's usually a good sign of a good meal. My entire family enjoyed this place and we will be going back.
(4)Sandra R.
Decided to give this Joes Crab Shack one more try. The staff is always friendly but the food is less than spectacular. This visit was a pleasant surprise. I had the island steak and shrimp. It had a nice sweetness and was cooked the way I ordered it. Nice job!
(3)Lorna W.
This is our go to restaurant for big, family style meals. Our family of six orders three steamer pots and three appetizers and we leave happy. Last night we took our pop for his 70th birthday and Joes did not let us down. Our waitress was very attentive and pleasant. The food was a bit on the cool side but we were hungry so no one complained. I love the sausage which is an odd thing to say about a seafood restaurant but there it is. The crab is lush and there is plenty of melted butter. Joes is well kept despite its casual atmosphere. Tables were clean and well stocked. It's a bit pricey. I have to be honest. $170 for 8 people eating family style. But it's not often that we go so it's certainly a treat.
(4)L B.
wow..where to begin...I guess it's really my fault for thinking a chain could do shrimp and grits but the photo looked so good...sucker. When the food finally arrived it was in a cast iron pan and was luke warm..the biscuit was a hockey puck, the shrimp was super gritty...gross.The grits had a weird texture, more like over processed polenta. I thought I could just eat the grits on the second round, they were hot but terrible, I tried hot sauce...that didn't work, it was suppose to have sausage which was exactly 2 small pieces that I had to look for and tasted like processed hot dog. So I paid for the service, left hungry and went somewhere else...how sad never again Joe.
(1)Laura L.
My mom suggested going here tonight and although I was not really enthused, I went along for the ride. My parents really like this place in general. They come here pretty often. The service was slow, which is odd because we got here before six p.m. on a Friday night and the place was pretty dead. We did not leave until after 7:30 and we are fast eaters. The service was also... annoying. I'm not the type to like places where they dance or sing. Beyond that annoyance... the server called me "Sweetie" and "Sweetheart,' neither of which I welcomed or appreciated... especially coming from someone younger than me. If she was in her sixties, maybe it would not have bothered me. It just came off as condescending. I know I look young, but stick to calling the kids "Sweetie" and not the adults. THANK YOU. As far as the food, the appetizer was good. My stepdad liked his crab steampot. My mom ordered my kiddo two kids' meals (that's another story) and my kiddo just ate her mac n' cheese (likely Kraft). I had the fish and shrimp. Fried shrimp, fried fish and fried... fries. When my food arrived, it was just dropped without anyone asking if we needed anything else. We did, but we figured the waitress would come back to ask us within a couple minutes. I like to eat shrimp and fish with lemon and I needed ketchup for my fries. I did not see the waitress for more than 10 minutes. By the time she returned with my condiments, my food was cold. The fish in my meal was just gross. I ate one bite and could not eat any more of it. The shrimp was fine. The manager came by a couple times to check on us, but even seeing our empty glasses did not offer to get us refills. We had waited for more than 15 minutes for drinks before our server refilled them. My mom waited longer for her water refill. In fact, the server forgot it twice. I won't be coming here again unless my folks beg! I typically can't stand eating at national chain restaurants and this one was no exception.
(2)Mikey R.
The Applebee's of seafood with all the ambiance of a Costco. Waitress was friendly. Lobster was a little overcooked. Our appetizer came late so they gave it to us for free. I can't complain.
(2)Keri F.
The food here is absolutely amazing!!!! The people are nice and at the time I came it was fast and quiet. (4:30 pm Tuesday.) The crab nachos were awesome as well as the calamari. A++ in my book!!
(5)Randy M.
This is our go to place for big family dinners they have no problem taking in tables of 9 and bigger and its a good place for kids to kinda be themselves without everyone staring at you and the crab buckets are to die for!
(4)Leslie D.
Ate here the day after Christmas because I did not want to cook. Our food was surprisingly good for this chain restaurant. I had snow, king and queen legs. Steamed perfectly.Hubby had a big fried platter and he liked it. So why 3 stars? Well, my dish wad 31 dollars, and while this is seafood, I feel this a little overpriced for 1and a 4th lbs. Of crab legs. (More shell than meat) There was also an issue with dessert but it was taken care of by the manager. Service was 5 stars but I am not sure we would return just because it is so pricey. Our bill was 78 dollars and I feel like the Angry crab is just as good amd cheaper.
(3)Nichole G.
I took my mom here for an early mothers day lunch. Our server was Cody who was nice but didn't bother letting us know there was a special going on. I overheard other servers telling their tables. We ordered the classic sampler the dip and the balls of fire were delicious but the calamari was chewy and there was some kind of clam strips that were extremely tough. I ordered the arctic steampot. The shrimp corn and potatoes were awesome but the lobster was super overcooked and tough and the queen crab was so over cooked I couldn't crack the shell because it was so rubbery. The crab meat inside did taste good what little of it was there. My mom had the main grill and her lobster was way overcooked and rubbery and didn't looked grilled at all. She said her shrimp was good and the dirty rice was good as well. We split an crumble with ice cream for dessert that was really amazing. I dont know why the seafood was so bad this visit I wish I could get some of the money back. I did not get what I paid for which ended up being $86 not including the tip.Previous visit was amazing, what happened. Sorry mom
(2)Pete H.
I suffered minor food poisoning eating here. It was a Saturday night and I ordered King Crab Legs and a Sangria. The crab legs itself was old. It tasted old, but did not have any strange smells so I figured it was okay. I figured this is Arizona, I can't get fresh seafood here so I settled for mediocre tasting food. That was fine because from reading the reviews, I didn't expect much. What I didn't expect was that the food was beyond bad. I stomach turned right after I finished my last bite. Usually this is a sign the food is pretty bad. I had indigestion for the next few hours. Minor problems, I figured. I woke up feeling pretty awful. I took some natural and prescription antibiotics in the afternoon and only then did I start to feel better. The service was very good. Bartender and staff were very friendly. I've been a fan of Joe's Crab Shack from back in Dallas and Fort Lauderdale. Those locations were always packed to the bone on a weekend night. I had greatly enjoyed the seafood there and have never gotten sick eating there before. This particular location is different. Crab was totally off and the place looked rather vacant for a Saturday night from 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Maybe the other customers learned their lesson already? Not worth risking my health here again. I gave this two stars because at Joe's, at least the staff is positive and friendly. You can count on that.
(2)Donica A.
Today we stopped in for a few drinks after being here last week and being surprised at how great the happy hour is at this location. If you sit at the bar and get Cynthia count yourself lucky! Great service. Drinks are priced right and the food comes out quickly. Ive seen the bad reviews but I just dont get that. 2 times in 2 weeks and I am a happy camper at this hapoy hour.
(5)Bekah S.
Dirty table, bathroom, silverware and plates. The appetizers came out cold and sloppy. The potatoes were undercooked. Not a fan.
(1)E B.
In my opinion you go to a crab shack, and you get crab! And the crab there is excellent, get the QUEEN CRAB IN RAJUN CAJUN, you wont be disappointed However if you're that one person whose dragged along for the ride there are of plenty of non-seafood items on the menu that are just as good. Servers are very friendly and knowledgeable, just ask them their suggestions they are more than happy to explain things to you. Weekdays are great for Joe's, they have happy hour specials at the bar, and no wait time. The weekends may be a different story, obviously more people go out on the weekends and it can get pretty busy, so waiting longer should be expected, just be patient and have a good time I give this place 5 stars because service bends over backwards to make you happy, and if your food doesn't come out right or burnt they usually replace and give you something else or extras.
(5)Heimlich M.
Disappointed. The battered clam strips were great. The snow crab was pretty good. The king crab was pretty bad (it's maybe my favorite food but this was poor enough I didn't even finish it.). The lobster was small and over cooked. Didn't finish it either. The kid at the bar that served me was great.
(2)Carlesha O.
OK so this place lost stars for a couple of reasons. First off, both my husband and I ordered the same thing, Fish and Chips. My husband's fish was great, however mine was slightly burnt and just down right gross. This is because they fried my fish with old grease which made it dark brown and burnt. The coleslaw is really watery which makes it difficult to eat. We also ordered an appetizer, the bucket of shrimp which was awesome and the seasoning was to die for. Judy the server was superb and we were even greeted by the manager and served by him personally. When I informed them about my food they gave me two gift cards for free appetizers for my next visit which was great. The service was 5 stars but I had to deduct 2 points for inconsistency of meal quality. I would come back but only if they get their cooks to use fresher ingredients.
(3)C H.
We went to Joe's for a friend's birthday (at her request). The service was ok, but the food was ...not awesome at all. We all ordered Steamers ('cause they seemed like fun). They're not terrible ...but it seemed like they were all pre-made somewhere far away and not as fresh as they could have been. It was a fun place with lots of potential ...but unrealized potential during our visit.
(2)Bruce K.
I wasn't impressed not even the slightest, I am from Boston so I am spoiled when it comes to fresh amazing seafood spots. The clams where the size of peas which is what ruined it for me the most. The clam strips where nothing more that a batch of fried batter. I know moving out to the desert I would be giving up my love for seafood on a regular basis, and only being able to indulge when I visit home. I figured i would at least give it a try,but It will probably be the one an only time I ever disappoint myself like this again. P.S stop adding New England names to to your menu items because its not even comparable to the greatness of back home recipes.
(2)Valerie M.
Marg was good, sandwich was okay, service was alright but OMG the kitchen is S. L. O. W... Really now, more than 45 minites to wait. Shame. After looking at our watches and determining the time my husband arrived and when the order actually had been taken it was closer to an hour. One last thing that sticks out is the patio umbrella situation. Four tables, at least three umbrella stands, but only two umbrellas. I had asked if we could get an umbrella for our table since we had been there more than an hour before our food arrived and it was noticeably HOT. Being in uncomfortable conditions doesn't make for happy campers. And waiting an unreasonable amount of time for the food doesn't help. Would have spoke highly of server had she jumped on bringing an umbrella over from a recently cleared table but that didn't happen, no, we got up and got that cement base holder and rolled it over and pulled the umbrella and got that set up. And did ANY of the staff offer to lend a hand?! Hmpf. Yeah, right. Fix your patio too cuz it sounds like a few of those boards are gonna break. They're definitely a hazard to walk on even if they don't break.
(2)Tom W.
I love this place but wow. Service couldn't be more disorganized. I was told two hr wait for table. Took 50 min. Then I get table and nearly 40 min later no food still. Manager looks lost. It's freezing on here. Turn the ac off please. Bar tried to charge me for things I didn't order. Tables are sitting empty and unclean with people waiting in line to sit. ? No direction. A rudderless ship. Hope the food makes the last 90 min of sitting and waiting worth it Hmmmmmmmm wait wait wait.
(2)Nick W.
Been few a few times. Never great service, however tonight we were seated right away. ( a very slow night. Almost empty) We waited 20 mins. And no one ever showed up to get our drinks. So we got up and left. We handed out menus back. Told them our wait. They said sorry. But clearly didn't care. This is poorly managed and probably why it was slow on a Saturday night. We won't be back.
(1)Amy L.
Wayyyyyyy too over priced. The food was good, but not good enough for how much it costs! Next time we'll just go to the casino for less money and way more crab!
(1)Jackie B.
The food is very good, however the service is rather slow. They brought us a drink to share and it was too sweet. We waited 10 minutes to trade it in for 2 beers. Wish they'd be a little more attentive.....
(3)Bill B.
Service has been a wee bit slow. Bad luck is table/waitress. Hope the food is better.
(2)K B.
Used to be good back around...1999-2000 or so. I had great memories and used to love the food there. However, more recently a bf who had heard me make good comments about the food, took me there and the food was not good at all. It was edible, but there was more of a "fishy" not fresh taste this time. I know not to expect most seafood in AZ to be as fresh as if we were on the beach, but it used to be great. They no longer had some of the menu items they used to. It just wasn't impressive and certainly didn't live up to the memories I had. Good news is I no longer crave it and have to travel across town and spend the money to go there. :)
(2)Valerie V.
The service was good but unfortunately the food really upset my stomach (the crab). This was not my first time here and I've never had an issue before but this time around it's bad. Not only that but when I asked for a beer it took 20 minutes for the bar to say they were all out. So when I asked for another beer it was an additional 10 for them to tell me they were out of that too. Finally I settled for what was in special. The waitress was really nice hence the 3 stars but after these bubble guts I don't think I'll be back.
(3)Jim G.
My wife and I have been going to Joe's Crab shack since they opened on Southern. We always order the Dungeness crab with the BBQ dry rub seasoning it's yummy. We have been going for so long that the menu has changed a bit. In the past coleslaw was always included in all the meals and when it changed they told us to just ask for it and they would bring it with dinner. Last week we went for the Dungeness as always (it's the most expensive item on the menu). When we asked for the coleslaw the server asked the general manger (the old grumpy guy Mike) who said I've worked here for 2 years and never heard of it being served with the Crab and said no to our request. The server said coleslaw was $2:50.....we said no thanks. Our food arrives with a full ear of corn that tasted like the corn they feed to cows, horrible grainy...ate one bit and that was enough. Then moved on to the new potatoes and they were not cooked fully, hard and bland, strike 2, during this time the GM Mike came by and we told him our story about the cold slaw and with discuss in his eye walked away. He came back in a few minutes with the Cole slaw and it was great, although it was served in a ketchup sized paper cup maybe 4 ounces with a cost of about .27 cents. We heard the manger at the table behind us and when he asked how everything was 3 different persons said the corn was bad and his response was that he knew it wasn't very good. Now he comes to our table and asks about our meal and we told him about the corn and he just shrugged it off and left. Now when you have that many people complaining about the food you should do something but they did nothing. I remember years ago this place was always rocking on Saturday night with singing and dancing and birthdays balloons. They did not sing or dance during our meal at all, it was fun to watch the servers do the line dance but things have changed. As for me I'm going to keep the $85 and would have been more if they had not aggravated me and my wife in my pocket maybe I'll try a the Keg
(2)David H.
I drove to Joe's after seeing the "Southern Fried Maine Lobster" commercial and now wished I would have stayed home and made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What you see in the commercial [lots of lightly breaded lobster] is absolutely not what you get......Sure, if you enjoy dragging a mound of overly seasoned breading through equally over-seasoned butter, then go nuts! But if you are looking for lobster, you'll need to go "Indiana Jones" on your plate of food...... and if you're really lucky, you'll find lobster...............but only the tips of the lobster claws and a few random claw knuckles. I 'dug' through two plates [I sent the 1st one back] and after an exhaustive effort, came up with maybe 3 ounces of actual lobster surrounded by over a pound of breading. The mac & cheese was good, as was the corn, but you will not find a more cut-and-dried case of bait and switch anywhere [pun intended]. So if you are looking for lobster......look somewhere else.
(1)Lisa T.
The wait was not long to get a table, our server Morgan was great, friendly and attentive. The food was amazing. We always get the steam pots, we tried the bucket of shrimp, which was great. A few new menu items, next time we will be more adventurous and try something new. My go to is always the Rajun Cajun, and have never been disappointed. The staff is all great and interactive. The GM Steve has always stopped by our table to check on our experience. I go to both locations, but this one is my favorite. It is always a very welcoming experience.
(5)Josh B.
Bad experience. We were seated quickly, and for a Friday night, it was busy but not packed. At first our waitress was attentive, but once we place our order, we hardly saw her. It took an HOUR to get our food after ordering, and in the mean time, I was never offered a refill on my water, nor was anyone else at our table. Once the food started coming, they would bring two entrees (there were eight of us), and then it would take another five minutes or more and they'd come out with two more, and so on. All I ordered was fries, and I got my food about ten minutes after everyone else did. When everyone FINALLY had their food, we were short one side order, one person received the wrong side order, and my wife's salad was not made according to how she ordered it. When she was done eating, I was going to finish her salad, but after a few bites, I had to stop; it was just bad, absolutely no flavor at all. They knew our service was bad too, because without us saying a word, the manager came to our table and apologized for the slow service, at which point I also pointed out all the mistakes on our orders, and she took 10% off of our bill. I appreciate her attempt to fix the bad service we received, but I won't be coming back.
(1)Sam S.
I enjoyed this restaurant. Good atmosphere, service and food. The tables were a bit too close together for my tastes. Also, it was slightly pricey. A good experience overall, and I will be going back.
(4)Dan C.
Went last Saturday 7/20/13. Greeted, sat down all pretty normal. Waited a little while to be greeted by waitress, who was really nice. We ordered, crab stuffed shrimp for her and I had the jumbo shrimp. When it arrived I found that the shrimp were not jumbo but almost tiny! When I mentioned this to the waitress she brought me 6 more which was nice and all but still not the jumbo shrimp that the menu had mentioned. This restaurant has gone from really good to just ok in my opinion. The wait help were all pleasant but the food has just gone down hill.
(2)James S.
Stopped by for happy hour today and I must say this is one of the better happy hours. When you think it couldn't get better, come here on a Tuesday. On Tuesday, their special are two dollars hence the theme Twosday. After 3 hurricanes, I can honestly say my hour is happy...lol.
(5)William H.
Never had better crab! And I come from California! Recommend this place to everyone!!!
(5)Elina A.
I have always liked Joe's Crab Shack. They have a great happy hour from 4-7pm half off all appetizers and great drink specials.
(4)Ty R.
Love the new lobster bucket!
(5)Saydi C.
Went inside with my boyfriend around 10pm on a Thursday and it was a ghost town. Sat ourselves at the bar and waited five minutes. Saw two servers walk into the bathroom but no one greeted us and no bartender appeared, nobody came to talk to us! Left and went somewhere else! RED FLAG.
(1)Dolores G.
[2.5 rounded up to 3 at best] My increasingly rare visits here just further add to my disappointment. I find myself here with family or friends who are still convinced they have to stop in here while in the Valley. I have no issue with the environment or the service. What I do have an issue with is the food quality. Unless you like your seafood fried or are just here for some apps and drinks, there are better places in the Valley for seafood for the price. Although, I wouldn't get the occasional employee flash mob dance routine. My last trip here I ordered one of their steamer pots with the seafood, corn on the cob, potatos and a sausage. The pot I chose had crab and shrimp. The crab was meh and the steamed shrimp were super over cooked. I could do better at the frozen food section at the local grocery. Next time I am invited to join folks here I may just pass on the invite.
(3)R K.
Service was ok. Food was ok. Didn't impress me. Didn't seem fresh. Flavors seemed to be boiled out of it, and then covered with seasoning. I think it would retained the flavor better if it was steamed. Just my opinion.
(3)Emily P.
So this is chain. I may have set my expectations a bit high. I get that. But bibs? Where you've written things on them I can't read? Not cool folks, not cool. The crab was excellent, but at 30 bucks for four big legs, it seems rather steep. Perhaps I'm still an undergraduate at heart when it comes to my checkbook. Plus, yes I know we're in the middle of the desert, but come now folks - it can't cost that much. Over all I give you 3 stars. Because in the desert I have yet to find better seafood, however I think I just need to take more trips places where seafood is more prevalent.
(3)Mike A.
This is the 3rd time I've been to this location and the food & service is always top notch. We went for Valentine's Day earlier this year and they rocked our socks off. This time I was on vacation and the wife 7 I decided to have lunch at Joe's and we couldn't be happier. We went around 1 PM. and we got seated right away and our server Tara was awesome. She recommended a Pina Colada drink served in a whole, cored out frosted pineapple. This drink was the bomb and if you love Pina Coladas you need to order this. We started out with a sampler appetizer and a bowl of clam chowder. I then ordered a Arctic Steam pot and my wife ordered the East Coast Fish platter. No matter what time of day you come, there food is always fresh and tasty. I love crab legs and I can't find a better place in town to enjoy crab legs that aren't hard to break or the shells being soft from over cooking. I love this location so much. Keep up the good work Joe's!
(4)Tyler H.
Worst restaurant experience I have ever had. The waitress was absolutely terrible. After not being able to answer any of the questions about her menu, I got tired of waiting for a refill, so I walked to the server station, and asked another server to get more water. Then wanting to pay for my bland shrimp order and leave this dump took absolutely forever. Definitely go somewhere else to waste money on crappy service and food.
(1)Jay P.
Used to go to this Joe's location somewhat regularly back in 2005-2008 until we relocated. Long story short, we moved back home in August. Once we got back and settled, we made a point to return to our old hangout. Needless to say, while the outside remained the same, much else has changed. Inside is completely different and menu wise it is substantially different. Mainly, prices have hiked to a level where Joe's has become a "once in a blue moon" visit instead of a regularly visited establishment like it used to be. The service was very good however, although I wish out server would have had exact prices of the menu items. We were told the shark bite drink for two was $9; once we got it and began drinking it, we were informed it actually was $15. $6 may seem like no big deal, but it certainly would have made a difference on whether we chose to buy it or not. When we have drank out of it, we can't exactly say "oops, no thanks." Other than this, Joe's is a nice little establishment. The manager Scott seems to genuinely care about you having a good experience, the food was good as always, everyone was extremely nice and my kids enjoyed themselves. No complaints otherwise than the ones listed above. Price is a bit steep and the staff should be a little more aware of pricing.
(3)N C.
Took 15 minutes for hush puppies and 50 minutes for food. Place not even busy. Went to the one by Mills and food came out 15 mins. And manager brought the food out like he did something. ... No silverware also.
(1)Masha Z.
Pretty good food, farily okay service. Very expensive buckets, jesus. I can understand -- we're hundreds of miles away from an ocean -- but still! Incredibly overpriced. The bib this was a pretty good idea, since there's no nice way to really eat crab. As someone with arachnophobia, the crab legs gave me the heeby jeebies. That aside, the service was meh, the food was meh, and the price was crazy.
(3)Martell H.
We sampled four appetizers, one bowl of soup and two entrees at Joe's Crab Shack. Our bill, excluding beverages, tax and tip, came to about $62. Not bad! Pros - Reasonable prices, Kid friendly Cons - * Food is nothing to write home about * Not vegetarian friendly * Gift shop on premises Description * There's a quite large playground in front of the restaurant, and a small arcade on the inside. * Joe's Crab Shack has a gift shop in the front of the restaurant. * The decor is comprised of wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor knick knacks, watchamacallits, and doodads. * I hear that in the evenings the music and the servers add to the campy ambience. Not so at lunch. * Pretty extensive kids menu. * If you go to Joe's Crab Shack and you don't have a coupon, your AAA card will get you a discount.
(3)Doug S.
The wife and I went last night to this restaurant and to our amazement were seated immediately (never a good sign.) We immediately noticed how HOT the place was and we asked the waitress about it. She told us and I quote: "We can't lower the A/C to anything below 79 or it freezes up." Well let me tell you it was every bit of at least 95 degrees in there. After a few tentative looks from the wife we decided to get up and go to the OTHER Joe's on Baseline. It was much much cooler there and we had a great time. We love the crab pots and the salmon sunrise. We hate the heat and won't be coming back to the location on Southern unless they fix the A/C.
(1)Antonio D.
I grew up and spent most of my life in tempe, and have passed by this location many times always thought about going in. My first time, was horrible. It was a tuesday and really slow. We sat outside. Our server took for ever to bring us our drinks and completely forgot my beer. I cancelled my beer and figured id just order it from the bartender. When I go to the bar, no one is bartending (hmmm wondrer if thats why drinks took forever). Find out my outside server is actually the bartender! Shes supposed to handle the drinks for the entire restaurant and take on outside tables? Just horrible, when we ordered our food, we waited 45 minutes before we decided to jist cancel the order. Management looked confused and did nothing to help besides offering to comp our food. I don't want free food, I just want food. Worst experience ive hlever had, and will not ever be giving Joe's crab shack another try. How has the place been there so long?
(1)Mary H.
Great, fun atmosphere, and good food! What more could you ask for?!
(4)Michael C.
Downhill is the key word - I don't know what happened to this particular location but I am shocked they stay open. The crab cakes are abysmal and just about everything else is at best mediocre. Spare yourself and go elsewhere.
(2)KC M.
We have been to Joe's several times and have never been disappointed. The food is very good ~ the steamer pots offer lots of good food, cooked perfectly healthly. Each time we have had very nice, friendly and efficient waitresses. We like Joe's ~ it's a little pricey ~ but the portions are huge. Blessings : ) KC
(4)Karen W.
You know you are in for trouble when your nose is immediately hit with a whiff of overpowering fishiness when you first set foot into a restaurant. Nevertheless, we still decided to eat here, and like many have said before, for the price you pay, the quality is lackluster. Service was equally as lackluster, despite us being only 1 of 2 tables having dinner that night. I'd probably steer clear of this restaurant, at least for this location.
(2)Tim J.
Save your time and money, unless you are going for the appetizers and drinks. The appetizers we had were really good, but our main course was sub-par and nothing spectacular. How do you screw up fish and chips? They managed and served the most mediocre crab cake I have ever had. Unfortunately, this place is nothing special, mediocre at best.
(2)Laura M.
I've been to this location twice. Once four years ago and more recently just this past weekend. I had family in town who live in Tucson but decided to come to Tempe for the day to sightsee. We settled on Joe's as a place to meet for a little convo and noshing before they headed back home. Upon approaching the front door, it swung open and a young man greeted us cheerfully and welcomed us to Joe's. We immediately noticed our family members already seated in a corner booth, so we waved and headed in their direction. The hostess was sweet and polite as I explained it looked like they already had a table for us. We barely sat down and the waitress came over to take our drink order. She was back in MAYBE 2 minutes and wanted to know if we wanted appetizers or were ready to order. We asked for a few more minutes. Honestly, she gave us just that...FOUR minutes and she was back. I think this happened a handful of time before we actually were ready to order. Although the interruptions were annoying, she was really nice and was doing her best to offer great customer service. Now for the food. My husband and two family members had a bucket of king crab, with two potatoes and a piece of corn. They were all in heaven. Said it was really delicious. I had the coconut prawns with a side of fish--which was supposed to be a beer battered fish from fish and chips. I got Talapia. I asked for beer battered fish and got this pathetic little piece of cod (I hope!) with a light dusting of bread crumbs on it. My meal, although I devoured every bit of it, left me rather dissapointed. The shrimp were, well....shrimpy. I was thinking I was getting PRAWNS--nice, large, butterflied prawns like in the picture. Instead I got these itty, bitty, teeny, tiny SHRIMP that were butterflied to make them look bigger. I will say the french fries weren't bad--but who messes up FRENCH FRIES?? I won't be returning here again. Not to this location at least. Being from Washington, I am a bit of a seafood snob (which I really hate to admit, let alone BE) so I know FRESH, DELICIOUS seafood. That isn't what I got at Joe's. Like some other reveiwers mentioned...Pappadeaux's is MUCH better. Pass on Joe's and head there instead.
(2)Holly R.
The staff was really friendly. The atmosphere was really fun. The buckets were good but I was a bit disappointed when I cracked open all those crabs and got barely any meat. But then again, when I did get some, it was delicious =)
(4)Melissa B.
We have been regular customers here for several years and have always gotten the steampot for 2. The last time we were here we noticed that the food content had been cut in half...but the price has remained the same. We won't be coming back.
(1)Leslie B.
So disappointed! Paid about $25 for tasteless Dungeness crab legs. Even the butter was tasteless. Just awful! ... And the karaoke sucked as well. Who has karaoke at 5pm?
(1)Kay G.
I have been to his place twice thus far and excited to go back! Seated quickly, good food, and nice atmosphere for the family. I also got to have my picture put on website, totally think that this place was friendly and had good customer service! keep Rockin on Joe's Crabshack!
(4)Felix G.
Love the meals they Are the best sea food in the Arizona area
(5)Kerstin M.
Damn some of the gift cards I get as a teacher. I feel obligated to use them, even if I'd really rather not. The $30 I just got for Joe's Crab Shack was such a dilemma. So Hubby and I went yesterday since we would be in the area anyway. Our expectations were pretty low, so some elements of the meal actually met or even exceeded those expectations. We had the seafood fondue appetizer, which was OK, but complete garbage compared to Pappadeaux's. Hubby had the shrimp po-boy which came in a traditional presentation but with fried shrimp that he described as one step above cocktail shrimp. I myself would not have taken it so far, and out of pity, I gave him a bunch of superior shrimp from my platter. I had a reasonably decent mix of coconut, Parmesan panko, and seasoned fried shrimp. I also made the wise choice of asking for a sub of onion rings instead of fries. Hubby's fries were inedible, as if they had been triple fried. Hard as a rock. My onion rings were thin and mostly crispy. At least they tasted fresh. When the bill came, we were rather shocked. It was pretty pricey at over $40 for lunch. Frankly, I wasn't all that thrilled about spending nearly $20 (with tip) after my gift card was applied. When you consider that we would have gotten a far superior meal at Pete's Fish and Chips for about $12, Joe's is a sad place- no wonder they were practically empty. UPDATE: I just returned from a wedding where I happened to run into a former student who works at the Joe's at Arizona Mills Mall. She said her store has been rated the best in the Southwest, whereas this Southern & McClintock store is just not very good.
(2)Megan B.
I love this place! Staff is nice, place is neat, and food is great!! I love their great balls of fire app. But their bucket of snow crab legs with the garlic herb seasoning is to die for!!
(5)Lisa C.
We love Joe's Crab Shack. We make the trip down from Scottsdale at least twice a month to enjoy Joe's wonderful Steam Pots. A family favorite is the Lobster Daddy Steam Pot. Even our 4 year old son loves Joe's. Always a happy, family friendly environment.
(4)James M.
This is not anything like the Joes Crab Shack you'll find in Anahiem, California. Read on... After about 30 minutes waiting to get seated (in a nearly empty facility) and get menus our group of 6 were greeted by a half awake Joe's Crab Shack employee. She forgot my drink because she "Didn't write it down." After the staff danced around to "Car Wash" like they were zombies our waitress took our order. I ordered the Steak and Shrimp a 17 dollar meal. Steak well done. After a total of 1 hour walking into the restaurant I get my meal. The steak was dry and tasteless. I concede that well done to some restaurant means cooked beyond belief, but usually the staff can give you heads up on stuff like that. This was not the case. So with a bad dry taste in my mouth I say, don't go to this Joe's Crab Shack. You'll be better off going to the Claim Jumper next door.
(1)Leslie J.
Used to be one of my fave spots to enjoy, after yesterday, we won't be back. The host quickly went over the "NEW" menu with us, and recommended the Salmon Orleans. So i ordered it, asking for the salmon to be cooked medium, quickly told "NO, it's against kitchen policy". So, now disappointed, i just order only a bowl of Clam Chowder for my meal. The bowl has decreased by at least 1/2 in the size that it used to be (this was supposed to be my MEAL, i didn't order a cup), and the potatoes were raw and crunchy. As i'm picking them out of my bowl, the manager came up to us (fairly late into our meal) and apologized about not being able to prepare the salmon as ordered. Then she goes to explain that they can't cook it less than well done because it's FROZEN and packaged. Really? Isn't this a seafood restaurant? I then told her that the potatoes are raw. The manager then offered to cook me "another bag of clam chowder". I just looked up in disgust, now. The clam chowder, which had always been one of the yummiest dishes there, is PREPACKAGED? If i wanted frozen fish and prepacked chowder, i could have saved money and gotten similar quality at Long John Silvers. My husband got the Grilled Malibu Shrimp. Average to say the least, surrounded with dry, mushy, over cooked (was frozen) broccoli. The best thing that we were served was the Applesauce cup that my son got as a side for his Popcorn shrimp. The service wasn't too great either. It was about noon when we got there, and a total of 4 small tables. So, there isn't much of an argument as to why we had empty tea glasses most of the time we were there. The manager did end up taking care of our meal, but knowing what i do now, we just will not ever be back. Good going corporate Joe's.
(1)Robert A.
How do restaurants like Joe's Crab Shack thrive? Let me tell you a little story. It might sound like I'm complaining about my (future) in-laws, but I'm not. I promise. My fiance's parents love the Crab Shack. Every year, we all spend a week in Coronado, California for a much-needed escape from the desert. Every year, we find ourselves driving across the bridge into San Diego in search of a crappy seafood dinner courtesy of Joe and his under-motivated teenage staff. Every year, my meal both amazes and disappoints me. How awful is a restaurant when it just keeps getting worse? I am totally certain that the kitchen contains nothing but enormous bags of frozen seafood and deep-fryers the size of swimming pools. One time, we had a waiter that kept calling all the men "bro." I am not your bro. I am paying for and eating food that would get even a Red Lobster cook fired and, as such, am entitled to no less than five-star treatment. If there is anything positive to say, it is that the bibs they hand out to people eating crab are HILARIOUS. I've got the pictures to prove it. I'll visit the Shack once per year out of obligation. I'll even be (sort of) happy to do it, considering those close to me seem to love it and I'm not going to rain on their parade. You will never ever ever ever ever ever find me at one in Arizona, however. Ever!
(1)Erica O.
I worked in the plaza where this Joe's Crab Shack is located for a year and a half, and never visited there once. The "Free Crab Tomorrow" sign brought a smile to my face too whenever I'd see it, but the word of mouth from people I worked with was that the food was mediocre. And they were right. Today was my friend's birthday and she was looking for some seafood in the area since we were taking a lunch break. Pete's Fish and Chips was thrown around as an option, but she decided on Joe's Crab Shack. Seeing how it's her day for a super happy birthday extravaganza of fun, I conceded. And all I have to report on the experience is coupled with a shrug and an, "Eh." If you like the corporate atmosphere of TGI Fridays or Bennigan's or any of those other places where they put shit on the walls, you'll probably enjoy Joe's Crab Shack. You'll be prepared for the pitfalls as well. It's overpriced and under-seasoned. It's dried out when fried up. It's unoriginal and bland. But if you douse everything with malt vinegar and tartar sauce, I contend that even cardboard would go down smooth. I've been here several times on others' bill, and have left with the same lackluster impression and a belly full of grease. I've had the combos, fried and grilled, the crab sandwich, the fish and chips and the crab dip, and I really can't even rank them in order of best to worst because nothing stands out as stellar or atrocious. It's all just...there. Plus their margaritas are weak. Eh.
(2)Joyce F.
i must have low standards compared to the other reviews for joe's. i ordered a caesar salad and thought it was just okay. i'm a fan of the king crab bucket with joe's bbq seasoning and 3 small potatoes and 1 large corn. not that it was enough food but i asked for a sausage too. i can't have a bucket without sausage. i was pleased with my main course. jerrod was our server and i thought he was good especially when he ran out to the parking lot to catch us because we forgot our to go box. the karaoke singing was something i would avoid next time but would return.
(4)Kristin C.
I'm just not that impressed. The menu isn't that great. The prices are higher than they should be for what you get. They atmosphere is fun in a "this was designed to look like every other fun location" kind of way - but completely lacks it's sincerity. I've gone twice with someone who LOVES seafood, and her favorite restaurant is Red Lobster (Ultimate Feast every time...). Even she wasn't impressed. It didn't do anything for her. She said it appeared that the crab legs had been previously frozen and then re-heated too quickly (she thought maybe microwave). I don't cook, but she does more than regularly so I'm going to trust her on that one. We wanted to like it so we tried once more in case it was a bad night for both them and us and decided that really, this just wasn't it for us. Their "Free Crab Tomorrow" sign always makes me smile, but at least now I know to laugh at the joke and just keep on driving.
(2)Anna M.
We stopped by for lunch on Sunday. The parking lot was packed with an old car show that benefited cancer research. We sat on the patio where the people watching and music was good. First off the server(Ashley) was great. We had the Seafood Fun-Do. It tasted better then it looked. We had really good long island iced teas (made with tea not coke, ask for it that way) which enhanced the whole experience. Then we split the original steam pot. Everything in it was good with the exception of the shrimp. They were not cleaned. I just don't like cleaning my shrimp at the table or biting into shrimp poo. The bibs were very handy in saving a trip to the dry cleaners. The food is messy and unpretentious. The napkins are a roll of brown paper towels. The atmosphere was good with the car show going on. I don't know how often I would come here but it was nice to sit outside and chow on some seafood.
(3)Jai D.
Believe all the other reviewers on this one. They are all very accurate. Despite that, I decided to try it last night because it's close and we felt like seafood. Now the food is not so bad that it's inedible, but it's nothing incredible, and you can get much better elsewhere. And the guy who said the margaritas are weak, well I can say that the mojitos are very weak as well. Our waiter was too busy chatting and trying to hook up with the hostess than to wait his tables. Everything about this place is mediocre.
(2)Peter H.
We went here when there was construction and they had a good happy hour. I returned today and everything was horrible. The Fat Tire tasted like Budweiser and there were no specials for food during happy hour. Fat Tire needs mixed gas not CO2. I told this to the bar tender but he didn't care. The food is just average, but you can buy a t-shirt with some STD innuendo.
(2)Georgia R.
I'm with everyone else. Joe's Crab Shack isn't anything to write home about. The menu has the normal shrimp, crab and fish dishes on it, and pretty much everything is going to be deep fried and greasy. The only things on the menu I like are the 'Great Balls of Fire.' Don't laugh- they're really good. They're cheese balls stuffed with jalapeno and crab or shrimp and then they're deep fried. Delish. Other than that, I wouldn't come back to the Shack unless it was on somebody else's dime. I wouldn't pay for a meal there again.
(2)Justin K.
Yikes.. I should have checked the Yelp before going here for my FIRST EVER CRAB LEGS EXPERIENCE. Is this place specifically designed to annoy? As we sat there eating very mediocre crab (it's not supposed to taste really fishy right?), the volume of the music doubled and all of the employees line danced to "COTTON EYED JOE" by Rednex which is possibly the most annoying song of all time. This lasted roughly two minutes and was followed by a Smashmouth song. To add to the annoyance factor, there are multicolored Christmas lights strewn throughout the restaurant and the staff wears tie-dye shirts. Thinking about it is giving me a headache. Would maybe go back as a joke. The hush puppies were good.
(1)Rhino E.
This place is so great. The Food is fantastic, the service is Wonderful, this is my favorite place to go for CRAB CRAB CRAB. I recomend the King with boiled garlic seasoning. Also the seasonal crab is always a good call, try the Snow fire grilled for a treat ;-D
(5)Jon C.
Joe's crab shack is the place you go for warm, some times fake, family friendly atmosphere . I my self have celebrated two of my own birthdays in the confines of this eatery. I particularly enjoy the joe's steam pots. A little pricey in my mind as none are under 20 dollars. Their good though considering that the seafood your eating had to take 10 hour truck ride to get on to your plate in the middle of a desert. With titles that involves words like "Cajun", "long Islander" and "Orleans" Joe's try's to sell culture to the urban sprawled and culture deprived suburbanites of the west. I Praise Joe's for their cleverness but it seems all to tacky eating the mussel and clam filled "Long Islander" while staring into a all to similar sea of brown housing tracts. The Steam Pots Besides their irony are simple consisting of the seafood that comes with the variation of the pot you chose, potatoes, sausage and generous amounts of melted butter. People Dog on Joe's steam pots for their lack of authenticity and that they have had better when their Grandma made home cooked crab when they where kids growing up in the boondocks of redneckville, Maine. Well i say unless you wanna back to grandmas house in redneckville I suggest you go to Joe's and relish their transplanted steam pots. Joe's is like many restaurant chains who try to inject culture to many culture less neighborhoods, sure the atmosphere is fake, the staff even faker , the food and the steam pots are just above mediocre but what more can you ask for your in the freakin desert!
(3)