Great Friendly Atmosphere. Everyone from Lauren who answered the phone to Josh our server and Alex the manager made it clear from the first moment they were glad we were there. This was my first visit and I expected only commercial seafood of average quality. I was pleasantly surprised with the fresh steamed Lobster, Crab and Shrimp that I ordered. Josh, our server, came by several times to make sure things were right and take care of any requests we might have. Unlike some servers in other places when he asked if we needed anything he waited long enough for me to reply. I am sure we will be back again soon.
(4)
Mike C.
Had dinner here with the family...what a mistake!!!! Only came here because had a seafood craving and left oh so Disappointed. I had a feeling this was gonna be a bad experience. Our booth had so much food on it, almost felt like I was a busboy... Whatever happened to customer service our waitress never came around to check in. We had to flag her down because my daughter was missing an item from her order. At then she realized we needed a refill. The food was so sub par and blah...We can definitely say we tried the place but will DEFINITELY not return!!!!
(1)
akiyia k.
My Hubbie took me on a lunch date today here. The food was Excellent! My waitress at 1st seem like she wasnt having a good day. But she start being nice later. But there was a manager in there that was Excellent. She asked us several time was everything ok. Maybe she heard me say my waitress wasnt to friendly. But at the end the food and Service was Excellent! Thank you so much Joe's Crab Shack.
(5)
Kevin B.
Love me some Joe's crab shack! Great casual atmosphere and a beautiful night for the deck. Seafood is not bad either but it's hard to please this Florida boy when it comes to seafood.
(4)
Susan j.
My party got there at 11:15. We were seated and taken care of right away. 5 kids under the age of 9 whew. 4 adults. April did a fantastic job of taking care of us. I was unable to eat anything other than soup due to a tooth ache so I ordered lobster bisque. Hence the four stars. All the other food was great. The bisque smelled doughy. Not sure the thickening agent had been cooked long enough and it looked curdled so I didn't eat. Wanted to talk with the manager but the kids were getting restless. All in all it was okay.
(4)
Karo R.
Joe's Crab Shack Met up with some friends here a few Saturdays ago ( someone elses suggestion ), but Im glad we went!!! Please, Please, Please try the Grilled Shore....it may be a seasonal meal, so hurry, they grilled everything. I even had bbq butter on my grilled fish. Delish!!! The plate came w/ grilled mahi fish, grilled corn on the cob, grilled shrimps skewers with bacon wrapped around each and every shrimp and potato salad, but not how you think of potato salad . ... the potatoes were warm, and I really can not describe what was inside them, but they were yummy, and whoever came up with BBQ butter need to be the next president of the United States of America. Lol . Its literally the best thing since sliced bread. Everybody else got a steampot of some sort ( so typical ) lol . Our server was great & the manager came by to check on us twice. Great food, Great service .....we will be back!!! Went back that following Tuesday for $2 Hurricanes. Lol
(5)
Aye E.
Great dinner. We beat the crowd, so there was no wait. We came for crab and it didn't disappoint. The menu says it's wild caught, which is important because I don't eat farmed seafood if I can help it. The fries were good, but I was expecting more than the portion served. They also got cold fast but we were putting in work with the crabs. Cole slaw was tasty and not soaking in mayo, which it a plus for my tastes. Server was attentive. Both managers came by and checked on us too. Atmosphere was great. Songs and dances by staff, birthday songs for guests, disco ball, playground outside for kids. Very cool. No complaints and we will definitely be back!
(5)
Liz V.
It's a sad day when a franchise like Joe's Crab Shack is the best and only laid back, decently priced, seafood place around. What can I say? I'm a sucker for their steam pots and the original is my favorite. 2 large snow crab legs, peel and eat shrimp, potatoes and sweet corn on the cob. A steal at only $19.99 and even better with the Autism donation coupon making it free. If other Yelp reviewers read the coupon correctly, it states for steam pot only, not crab legs. If they're giving away the coupon on FB, like they claim, I'll take it. Just sayin... Joes serves really strong adult beverages. The drinks are served in oversized mason jars or classic red Solo cups. Almost every drink recipe consists of some kind of pineapple and rum concoction that I'm all about that!! I also love that they have a playground out front. This keeps the rowdy kids at bay while I'm knee deep in crab legs and my second...err, fourth rum punch.
(4)
Punyasloka M.
Awesome place, awesome food, awesome service. Manager is very friendly and staff very professional
(5)
Rick M.
I should know better - I was born & raised 5 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, but my kid can darn near eat her weight in crab meat, so we come here once/twice a year, in between trips to Pensacola, for a crab fix. It barely accomplishes that, but it does pass for seafood in the most basic sense. One tip: stick with the crab. Nothing else on the menu resembles fresh seafood. You don't go to KFC for a fish sandwich do you? The staff there is very friendly, and I've never had a problem with service.
(2)
Mark M.
So I unexpectedly find myself in the N.Atlanta area and couldn't resist my favorite seafood restaurant inland; Joe's Crab Shack. It's Friday evening around 6:30 so the place is real busy. I was by myself so I chose bar seating so I could be seated now even though bar service isn't my favorite place to sit. I was greeted right away and asked for a drink order; Sam Adams- Boston Laager. I Also ordered the Sam Adams Steam Pot that is boiled in my favorite brew. It's a collection of sausage, corn potatoes, clams, Dungeness crab legs, sweet snow crab and shrimp. I couldn't wait!! Soon my food arrived but, before it did a manager stopped by to see if all was ok. It was. Shortly after, my food did arrive and I began digging in! After the customary 2-minute check back, my server brought me some drawn butter. The food was cooked well (not over cooked) and presented well in the pot. Soon, Gen Mgr. Jeff checked on me and my order and introduced himself - nice touch of service. All rocked on, I'm pleased with my meal and 15-20 min later Jeff checks one last time to make sure all was good-it was. Overall, I was very pleased with the food but more impressed my the level of service offered from a lead person opening the door for me to enter and exit to the service staff and manager interaction with the guests. This place gets an A+ from me for this experience. If this is their regular service, you will enjoy yourself. I saw Jeff give the guest next to me a new steak to go because the one he ate wasn't cooked as ordered. Now that is taking care of your customer! I will recommend this place and certainly go back!
(5)
Mary W.
Steamed shrimp are good but I don't recommend the crab cakes. They tastes like mayo, not so great
(2)
William W.
This visit at a Joe's Crab Shack far exceeded my expectations. Our last visit to the one in Daytona Beach was a disaster. The review for that one is below. We were quickly seated, and our drink order was taken. Shortly our drinks were served, and we still needed a few minutes to look over the menu. We placed our order, and the served was very attentive and recalled our order back to us, noting the special requests. Our food arrived as ordered. Everything was great, and we all shared so everyone could have a small sampling of the variety of offerings on the menu. There server returned soon to check on us, and bring drink refills before we ran out. The manager came by and introduced herself to us. I may have been caught taking photos of the food as it arrived, but it's always great to have a member of management stop by, even for a quick hello. A much better experience, and great service!
(4)
Mike C.
Ok. So you hate yourself. You have an overwhelming desire to consume frozen seafood that is so abysmal, so breathtakingly bad, and this personal hell can only be completed by the addition of being surrounded by chubby country folks in too tight camo. This is your place. Soak it up, buttercup. The smells, the sights. It's a carnival of disappointment and the big prize at the midway is a giant, stuffed, stinking lobster to call your own. He needs a name. I named mine Leonard.
(1)
John G.
HUGELY Disappointed Have eaten here before and returned hoping for the same flavors and quality, got neither tonight and seemed the place was dead. Wound up with a group of 8 other servers who gathered around our table talking about how horrible the place was an so little in tips and the fun of the night was repeatedly talking about somebody who had a detached retina, great things to hear about while eating. I got the steampot with what I hoped was BBQ and the wife got the seafood pan saute platter, both were HEAVILY overcooked. Started showing the manager the crab that you could tell it was WAY overcooked, he just asked if I wanted the same. After a 30 min wait to get this, I answered not to wait that long as we had to pick up some people from the mall before it closed. Bad experience and a manager who seemed to be checked out made me wish for what this place used to be and the fact that I could have had a MUCH better meal for both of us at Marietta Fish Market for a cheaper price. Oh, BBQ was non existent in the crab legs there with even the shrimp being good substitutes for coasters. Don't think we will be going back there again...
(1)
Elaine B.
Went to Joe's for an adult birthday party. Called ahead to alert them, but still had to wait when we got there. Food was as described (my shrimp was good, but my husband's crab was bland), but came out segmented so part of the table didn't have food when we were ready to eat. Wait staff acted like our party of 12 was the biggest party they had ever served. They could have been friendlier.
(3)
Mark N.
First salad was sent back due to hair in salad. 2nd salad was frozen. Sent it back also. Entree of Mahi Mahi was acceptable but a little fishy
(1)
Katherine B.
They say if you don't succeed, try again... well this place is an epic fail! I paid $16 for a plate of fries, where's the seafood??? Such a huge disappointment!
(1)
J. S.
We were here in April; great experience gave a $10 donation to Autism Speaks and in return we were given a coupon for a free "classic steampot." We returned today to use the coupon. First we told the waitress we had the free Autism Speaks coupon from last month. Okay.. We order... three buckets of steamed legs. Two were soggy like boiled crab legs and not streamed. The third was good, not great but good. So ticket time, "oh, you can't use that coupon." She took it the manger who says there is no way for her to even discount our bill. I just don't buy that!! So...there is no way this family will be returning. That manager just cost the employees a family that tips 20% and rounds up. I'm giving away a great coupon via Facebook.
(2)
Adrienne T.
Just Say NO to Joe! Burnt fried lobster, hollow snow crab legs, odd people. No, Joe, not no mo'.
(1)
Jay L.
Being here always brings bck a lot of good remembers from my teenager years. This was a great place for my sister & I to eat great food & have a good time. The service @ Joe's is always exceptional! My sister & I always argue over the last hush puppies b/c there are so good. lol The seafood is always on point. When I crave delicious melt in your mouth seafood. This is where we go!
(5)
S S.
My family and I went to celebrate a birthday. We had a party of 7 adults and 2 young children. We arrived a few minutes before 8pm after the evening meal rush. The service was good. We all ordered crab legs and throughly enjoyed ourselves. The food was good. I would recommend this restaurant to families with small kids IF you come at a nonpeak time.
(4)
Patrice G.
Was treated wonderfully. Came on mothers day weekend and the wait was not too long. The food was pretty good. This was my first time here and since I didn't know what to order I just chose the Samuel Adams steampot which turned out to be a pretty good choice. I would definitely come back. Plus they have a playground that the kids can enjoy. It's a definite plus.
(4)
Edward W.
3.5 stars. Typical Joe's. A crabby TGI Fridays. Lots of crab varieties (sadly, no blue crabs), shrimp and a few other menu items. Good for a casual change of pace, but not a cheap date.
(3)
Kischa J.
I love this location. Let me preface this review by saying I dine here so much, they know my name and order. I almost always order to go, but occasionally dine in the restaurant. Never had a bad experience. The classic steampot is my favorite - 2 kinds of crab, shrimp, andouille sausage with corn and potatoes. It's consistent and never lets me down. The staff is amazing. There's always someone to greet you at the door and the servers/management really take care of their repeat customers. Shout out to Brantley and Jeff! I came in today and noticed that they changed the menu *read: increased the prices* on a few items my husband usually orders. Eh. Whatever. It's more of an annoyance than a deterrent. If you're in the area, this place is worth a try. You'll be back.
(4)
Jeremy W.
Decided to make this our Friday night family dinner spot for a night. We never have been really wild about this place - but now...even less so. My mother in law got the "snow crab" for $22 which was about the most puny, tiny little bunch of legs we'd ever seen. Looks like the crab must have been sick before they killed it. Nowhere near enough crab for the money they're asking. My father in law's shrimp were battered up to the max to make them look like they were about 3X bigger than they actually were. Long John Silvers uses that trick...you wouldn't expect it from a premium seafood restaurant. My "Queen Crab" legs were of decent size, but only two clusters for $26? Really? And now - here's another thing. Instead of just bringing out the drawn butter - you have to ASK for it and the servers aren't allowed to suggest it. The long and the short it of...the quality just isn't here - at all. This has become a place that cuts corners and serves up ultra cheap seafood at premium prices. No thanks...we've darkened their door for the last time.
(1)
Kyle W.
The classic bucket, Mahi fish & chowder had no taste what so ever. Mgmt & Service was good, mgr took the mahi dish off. I would go back for apps only.
(3)
T-Boogie A.
Me and my son are the only two of our family that come here being that the other two are allergic to shellfish. Yes, I know they have land food, but when someone has a shellfish allergy as bad as Will Smith in Hitch, you stay FAR FAR away! Anywho, drink are always good. Crab always yummy. Sometimes they will overcook the shrimp though if you get a pot broil, so be sure to specify to put those in last. For desert my son always wants the smores skillet thingy. It's REALLY good, but only a kid could eat something that sweet in that quantity and enjoy it fully! lol All in all Joe's is a great place. But if it's your bday, watch out. You WILL have to get up and "shake it" ;o)
(4)
Logan D.
We love this Joe's Crab Shack. My family comes here all the time. The kids just love the crab. The food and service here is consistently fabulous. Thing I like. 1. The food. It is always good. My husband and I get a steam pot for 2. It is often more than we can finish and they don't skimp on the crab. My youngest stepson like crab so much we often get him a steam pot for one off the regular menu because he will eat it all but for the other kids they have an amazing kids menu. They have kids steam pots for $10 and other great stuff for $5. 2. OMG a playground at a real restaurant!! Yes that is right a real playground too, not those crappy indoor things, that now often have video games, that fast food places have. The kids can go play till the food gets there and I get to have a real grown up conversation. 3. The service here is amazing and if there is every a problem management will take care of you right away. It's a fun atmosphere and I think it must draw really fun personable people. 4. The atmosphere is really fun. If you don't like dancing staff and upbeat music this place is not for you. I love the funny things they write on the bibs. 5. The souvenir cups are great. Most middle of the road chains have these now a days but the ones they have here are the best and really fit my husbands personal style. I don't drink at all and my husband only drinks on occasion but he gets one every time we come. The last ones we got at my husbands birthday party and like ceramic red solo cups and before that tiki glasses and mason jar glasses. 6. The patio is the nicest in the area and it is right next to the playground. What I don't like. 1. Patio seating can be hit or miss as far as getting greeted right away. If the patio isn't busy there isn't a server assigned it and your server may not know you are there. Typically I have found that if no one has talked to you in 5 minutes, no one will talk to you in 15 minutes and it's best to grab someone and let them know you have been overlooked before you have had your night ruined so you can enjoy how awesome everything else is.
(5)
Renee S.
Sat at table for 15 mins with no server till the server to the table next to us realized we hadnt been waited on. She apologized and took on the table. Dont know why the host would seat us at a table with no server. Its a tiny place so its not that hard. The server was efficient and nice and the snow pot for 2 was YUMMY. And what is up with the plastic thing they give us to break the crab now? And the bib. Its a shame this is the only Joe's in this area.
(3)
Rick J.
When I am at Joe's I order a tropical rum drink and, for just a moment, close my eyes. It feels like I am back in the Bahamas. Except at Joe's the staff is competent. And the place is clean. And the drinks are strong and the food is good. Except for those things, yes, it's just like the Bahamas. I sit outside on the patio. It feels laid back, hot, and breezy. It's a great way to unwind Friday after work or to enjoy a leisurely Saturday. With regard to food, Joe's has a good variety of seafood, plus land dishes. I enjoy the seafood, but the non-seafoodies with me tell me the steaks are quite good. The last couple of times, our waitress had a wickedly sarcastic sense of humor (in a good way). She had me laughing the entire meal. I give her a 5-Star Plus rating. (If you prefer waitstaff that is personality-free, your mileage may vary.) In the Yelp review system, 4 Stars means "Yay! I'm a fan." That about sums it up. I highly recommend.
(4)
Kim E.
Was treated very kindly from walking in. Eric our waiter was really nice! He was kind of funny also. I ordered the kj steampot which has crab legs, mussels, scallops, potatoes and corn. It was really good and I would order it again. I especially liked the mussels because I'm a mussel lover. I probably would get something else with more of those next time because mussels are so small and you have to eat a buttload of them to be happy. Pretty good seafood for a chain. I always think crab is fun to eat because you have to work for your food.. It's messy work lol. Luckily they provide a wet napkin for you to wipe your hands with after and a roll of paper towels
(5)
Melissa K.
I was really in the mood for some crab and didn't really feel like making it myself. My sister had eaten at other Joe's locations and said that the food was really good. The best way to describe both the food and service at this location is as if they had thrown 6 interceptions in the first quarter of the game. We ordered one of the special appetizers and were disappointed in finding that one part wasn't even seafood. When it came to the main course the shrimp was like bitting into shoe leather and the snow crab clusters were missing a couple of legs each, as well as most of the lump meat. The food was also lukewarm. Our server spent most of the time chatting at the bar with her boyfriend and couldn't break herself away long enough to bring us our own food. I couldn't get out of there fast enough! The food did not match the description and was way overpriced for the quality. You could do much better and I will not be going back!
(1)
Kat W.
Went here with visions of steampots in my head, what I got was a plate of seafood in a pot. Which is I guess the same but not really... So walking in after not being in a Joe's for years I forgot how ticky tacky the place is and sorta reminded why I haven't been back in years. But we braved it because steampots were dancing in my head. Service was good, not great. Food was just well food. The coastal wave steampot wasn't anything I couldn't do at home for possibly cheaper. I say that because the seasoning was flat and I could have done better. Now after saying that the crab was the high point of the meal. Wasn't hot, salted just right but no spices. Shrimp were over cooked, potatoes under cooked. Corn was decent, nowhere near hot or even warm. Matter of fact most of the pot was cool temperature wise. Also ordered the Mahi fish, over cooked and dry. Vegetables that came with it were under cooked with some of the brownest potatoes I've ever seen. Would I come back, not for the price I paid. But if someone wants to pay for me to complain in person, sure. Side note--the dancing done by the waitstaff is really really sad to watch. I feel so sorry for them and for those (me!!!) who had to watch them castrate themselves for minimum wage.
(2)
Michael O.
I like this place! I've eaten here several times! It's like the "Non-Black People's Red Lobster" LOL! Often times me and whom ever I'm with at the time are the select few blacks in there! LOL! BUT, at Red Lobster, It's ALMOST always 94.7% Minority! LOL! But the food is good, it's loud in there and their staff is friendly and efficient! I fuck's with "JCS" Last time I went, I had the Fried Oyster app..."Hated It!" LOL! But I've had there other dishes and haven't been let down, so it's all good! :-)
(4)
Jason D.
I've had a great time every time I come. I usually sit at the bar when I'm flying solo because the bartenders are always so energetic and fun to talk to. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is awesome.
(4)
Lane M.
The queen crabs were pretty good, nice fast service. Nothing to brag about. The place has the "shack" feel, a little to commercial for my liking. I would go back if I had to.
(3)
Cindy W.
We've had pretty good luck with JCS around Florida, but this location just doesn't cut it...even after a few tries... :( Service was average, but the food was pretty awful and the prices were average too. I wouldn't want a repeat here.
(2)
Gale L.
Out hotel gave us a free appetizer coupon for Joe's Crab Shack in Kennesaw, Ga. so of course we took advantage of it. We were so glad that we did - the food was AWESOME and our waitress, Kavi, was the bomb! Service was great! We ordered the Original Steam Pot for two & The Classic Sampler and enjoyed it immensely. Every half hour or so the waitress are called upon to entertain the customers by dancing well rehearsed routines. The specialty drinks are to die for - We had the Shark Bite, Tie Dye Swirl & the Mason Jar Margarita - which I got to keep the jar! AND they have a huge outdoor playground for the kiddies! There is something for everyone here. We can't wait to return!
(5)
Heather S.
Every time I come here, it seems like the food quality slips just a little bit more.. and the prices just keep going up every time. I've never had bad service here, though occasionally the server has had to leave while taking my order. Why? To go dance to a stupid song, of course! They turn on a stupid disco ball, and play a song (the chicken dance song, cotton eye joe, etc) that the servers have to "dance" to. God forbid they have a birthday in the restaurant. It's nice that they try to provide atmosphere, but I'm really not into disco balls and badly dancing servers while I'm trying have dinner. Other than this, though, the service has always been prompt and polite. The steampots are ok, as is the clam chowder and the lobster bisque. The crawfish half and half USED to be really good, but now the etouffee is bland, the rice is.. rubbery?? and the fried crawfish tails are completely flavorless. My father had the fish and chips plate this time. The fish looked ok, but the fries were WAY too salty. I won't be going back for awhile.
(2)
Malik T.
Love it went with my wife and will surely go again. staff is wonderful and very friendly. The manager even goes around to every table to make sure everything is going well thanks guys for a wonderful service.
(5)
DeeAnn S.
I love the atmosphere and my kids loved the playground when they were younger. I think there drinks are overpriced and there isn't much liquor in them. The food is good but for the price not as good as Red Lobster.
(3)
Jeff L.
This isn't a place I would ordinarily come on my own accord. However, my In-Laws were in town visiting from Toronto and had seen some commercials for Joe's Crab Shack and wanted to visit. My wife and I had been pushing for the delicious Catfish Jim's, but we were outvoted and found ourselves dining one evening at the Crab Shack. I'll start by saying that, like some others have noted, this was just about the worst service I've ever experienced. We came in and were seated quickly. However, we sat for over 15 minutes before anyone came by our table at all. When someone finally did, it was the manager, who took our drink / dinner orders. He didn't really know the menu very well and so the ordering process really didn't go very smoothly. In any event, about 10 minutes later our waiter came by and said that he'd now be taking care of us. No explanation as to why he was missing, or an apology for the long wait. I'll also add that at three points during the meal, we were interrupted: twice for birthdays, and once for a song-and-dance show. The birthday announcements were obnoxious, and the song-and-dance routine was downright painful (3 minutes of disco lights and watching the waiters "dance" to Cotton-Eye Joe). For food, my father-in-law ordered the Crab Cakes, I ordered the Crawfish Half and Half and the rest ordered two steam pots: The Bean Town Bake, and the Crab Daddy. I would love to say that the food more than made up for the bad service, but it didn't, not by a long shot. The crab cakes were poorly made and were falling apart. It was more like sauteed crab meat than an actual crab cake. The crawfish half and half consists of crawfish etouffee and fried crawfish tails. The etouffee was fairly bland and the crawfish tails were decidedly overcooked. The main problem with this dish is that when you fry the crawfish tails, they lose their character and taste like any other small, fried seafood (e.g., popcorn shrimp, fried clams). The steam pots looked promising, but were also disappointing. Firstly, everything tastes like it was frozen, then steamed. On top of that, some of the seafood was overcooked (and a bit rubbery). People also complained that they didn't give enough in the way of fillers (corn, potatoes, etc.). You do get a decent amount of seafood, but once you remove the shells, you're not left with a ton of meat. In the end, the two steam pots (their most expensive ones) were barely enough to feed three people. And at roughly $40 for the Bean Town Bake, that's a bit expensive for what you get. All in all, I was not happy with the experience at Joe's Crab Shack. The food was all right at best, and I think that you don't get a lot of bang for your buck here. One of my biggest problems is that when I come to a restaurant, I want to dine on something that I cannot easily do myself at home. To me, their steam pots boil down (no pun intended) to steaming seafood with some corn and potatoes, and sprinkling some seasoning throughout. That's nothing that can't easily (and more cheaply) be replicated at home. The rest of their food just wasn't all that good. All in all, not a place I intend on returning to.
(2)
Danielle M.
I was on vacation visiting family when I saw Joe's Crab Shack while shopping. Since I haven't seen one in New York, I decided to give it a try. I loved it. The waiter I had was nice and gave me suggestions on what to try. I tried the KJ Steampot which was an assortment of crab, mussels, and scallops marinated in a wine sauce. It tasted great. I also tried the margarita which was not too strong but otherwise, I have no complaints. It can be expensive depending on what you get. However, I think it's worth it.
(4)
Berlin B.
This review is basically a review of myself, "1 star to me for making the mistake of coming in here. 2 stars to Joe's for getting in here". What was I thinking? Joe's Crab Shack is yet another example of why most people tend to hate chain restaurants. Why has it gotten this bad? Why? You could drag, drag someone off the street and they could come up with better recipes than this fast food restaurant wrapped in crappy, tacky sea world, Pirates of the Caribbean decorations from Walmart. You don't have to feel like a snob if you turn down this chain, you are a just a smart foodie. And I don't mean to single out this particular restaurant, I have been to a couple of Captain D's, I mean Joe's Crab Shack. The food all tastes the same, horrible but at least the managers and wait staff make up for with song and dance, lights turning off and on. But they have to work really, really hard because the food is...bad. First, I went in for Catfish. They don't serve that anymore for whatever reason. So, catfish is out. They don't normally put some of the types of fish fillets on the menu. I guess I would have to take the fish surprise. The other options are the Captain's platter which is a Captain D's combination of scallops, shrimp, fish fillet. I say Captain D's because it takes like Captain D's and they charge you 4 times as much. The Captain's platter thing cost $14-15 at Joe's and a lot less at Captain D's. But it takes like frozen, microwaved Craptain D's to me. I have tried their other dish, just more of the same. Fast food with with the $10 a plate restaurant fee. The popcorn shrimp looks and tastes like the shrimp from Publix. The yellow rice was overcooked and wouldn't have tasted good if it was cooked right. There are some basic fish dishes like Salmon on rice pilaf that as bad as the other fried dishes, but too is overpriced and crap. I may stop in 5 years from now after my stomach has recovered and try the fish enchilada. That is one dish that didn't seem too bad. And I will be honest, I haven't tried the crab at Joe's crab shack. I am being smart and not wanting to have to visit a doctor. They were lucky enough to get me in there, I won't step out too far and actually get myself killed with some month old crab or other shell fish. Summary: slow, over-priced, food was and will always be horrible, noisy. Thanks for tricking me into eating here. At least you got the marketing right. Note: I am not particular attacking the food at this particular franchise. I have been in this place, but most of my comments apply to all of the restaurants. A lot businesses in America follow the practice, "If we sell it, you will buy it". And this is true, Joe's was open and I have been here to buy their crappy food. Score for them, they got my money.
(1)
Frank F.
Had a great time with the kids for my Birthday. Service was great. Randy and Frank the managers were really good making sure the boys had a good time. The food was good. I highly recommend.
(5)
Robert C.
I am a fan of Joe's. I get good service and food. Never had a problem with service. Never waited longer than 5 minutes to be seated and a server was always prompt. This is not your gourmet seafood, but it hits the spot. Never really ventured past the snow crab. But they have a new spicy seasoning that has replaced my normal garlic flavor. Remember there is always free crab tomorrow ;)
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 L.
Great Friendly Atmosphere. Everyone from Lauren who answered the phone to Josh our server and Alex the manager made it clear from the first moment they were glad we were there. This was my first visit and I expected only commercial seafood of average quality. I was pleasantly surprised with the fresh steamed Lobster, Crab and Shrimp that I ordered. Josh, our server, came by several times to make sure things were right and take care of any requests we might have. Unlike some servers in other places when he asked if we needed anything he waited long enough for me to reply. I am sure we will be back again soon.
(4)Mike C.
Had dinner here with the family...what a mistake!!!! Only came here because had a seafood craving and left oh so Disappointed. I had a feeling this was gonna be a bad experience. Our booth had so much food on it, almost felt like I was a busboy... Whatever happened to customer service our waitress never came around to check in. We had to flag her down because my daughter was missing an item from her order. At then she realized we needed a refill. The food was so sub par and blah...We can definitely say we tried the place but will DEFINITELY not return!!!!
(1)akiyia k.
My Hubbie took me on a lunch date today here. The food was Excellent! My waitress at 1st seem like she wasnt having a good day. But she start being nice later. But there was a manager in there that was Excellent. She asked us several time was everything ok. Maybe she heard me say my waitress wasnt to friendly. But at the end the food and Service was Excellent! Thank you so much Joe's Crab Shack.
(5)Kevin B.
Love me some Joe's crab shack! Great casual atmosphere and a beautiful night for the deck. Seafood is not bad either but it's hard to please this Florida boy when it comes to seafood.
(4)Susan j.
My party got there at 11:15. We were seated and taken care of right away. 5 kids under the age of 9 whew. 4 adults. April did a fantastic job of taking care of us. I was unable to eat anything other than soup due to a tooth ache so I ordered lobster bisque. Hence the four stars. All the other food was great. The bisque smelled doughy. Not sure the thickening agent had been cooked long enough and it looked curdled so I didn't eat. Wanted to talk with the manager but the kids were getting restless. All in all it was okay.
(4)Karo R.
Joe's Crab Shack Met up with some friends here a few Saturdays ago ( someone elses suggestion ), but Im glad we went!!! Please, Please, Please try the Grilled Shore....it may be a seasonal meal, so hurry, they grilled everything. I even had bbq butter on my grilled fish. Delish!!! The plate came w/ grilled mahi fish, grilled corn on the cob, grilled shrimps skewers with bacon wrapped around each and every shrimp and potato salad, but not how you think of potato salad . ... the potatoes were warm, and I really can not describe what was inside them, but they were yummy, and whoever came up with BBQ butter need to be the next president of the United States of America. Lol . Its literally the best thing since sliced bread. Everybody else got a steampot of some sort ( so typical ) lol . Our server was great & the manager came by to check on us twice. Great food, Great service .....we will be back!!! Went back that following Tuesday for $2 Hurricanes. Lol
(5)Aye E.
Great dinner. We beat the crowd, so there was no wait. We came for crab and it didn't disappoint. The menu says it's wild caught, which is important because I don't eat farmed seafood if I can help it. The fries were good, but I was expecting more than the portion served. They also got cold fast but we were putting in work with the crabs. Cole slaw was tasty and not soaking in mayo, which it a plus for my tastes. Server was attentive. Both managers came by and checked on us too. Atmosphere was great. Songs and dances by staff, birthday songs for guests, disco ball, playground outside for kids. Very cool. No complaints and we will definitely be back!
(5)Liz V.
It's a sad day when a franchise like Joe's Crab Shack is the best and only laid back, decently priced, seafood place around. What can I say? I'm a sucker for their steam pots and the original is my favorite. 2 large snow crab legs, peel and eat shrimp, potatoes and sweet corn on the cob. A steal at only $19.99 and even better with the Autism donation coupon making it free. If other Yelp reviewers read the coupon correctly, it states for steam pot only, not crab legs. If they're giving away the coupon on FB, like they claim, I'll take it. Just sayin... Joes serves really strong adult beverages. The drinks are served in oversized mason jars or classic red Solo cups. Almost every drink recipe consists of some kind of pineapple and rum concoction that I'm all about that!! I also love that they have a playground out front. This keeps the rowdy kids at bay while I'm knee deep in crab legs and my second...err, fourth rum punch.
(4)Punyasloka M.
Awesome place, awesome food, awesome service. Manager is very friendly and staff very professional
(5)Rick M.
I should know better - I was born & raised 5 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, but my kid can darn near eat her weight in crab meat, so we come here once/twice a year, in between trips to Pensacola, for a crab fix. It barely accomplishes that, but it does pass for seafood in the most basic sense. One tip: stick with the crab. Nothing else on the menu resembles fresh seafood. You don't go to KFC for a fish sandwich do you? The staff there is very friendly, and I've never had a problem with service.
(2)Mark M.
So I unexpectedly find myself in the N.Atlanta area and couldn't resist my favorite seafood restaurant inland; Joe's Crab Shack. It's Friday evening around 6:30 so the place is real busy. I was by myself so I chose bar seating so I could be seated now even though bar service isn't my favorite place to sit. I was greeted right away and asked for a drink order; Sam Adams- Boston Laager. I Also ordered the Sam Adams Steam Pot that is boiled in my favorite brew. It's a collection of sausage, corn potatoes, clams, Dungeness crab legs, sweet snow crab and shrimp. I couldn't wait!! Soon my food arrived but, before it did a manager stopped by to see if all was ok. It was. Shortly after, my food did arrive and I began digging in! After the customary 2-minute check back, my server brought me some drawn butter. The food was cooked well (not over cooked) and presented well in the pot. Soon, Gen Mgr. Jeff checked on me and my order and introduced himself - nice touch of service. All rocked on, I'm pleased with my meal and 15-20 min later Jeff checks one last time to make sure all was good-it was. Overall, I was very pleased with the food but more impressed my the level of service offered from a lead person opening the door for me to enter and exit to the service staff and manager interaction with the guests. This place gets an A+ from me for this experience. If this is their regular service, you will enjoy yourself. I saw Jeff give the guest next to me a new steak to go because the one he ate wasn't cooked as ordered. Now that is taking care of your customer! I will recommend this place and certainly go back!
(5)Mary W.
Steamed shrimp are good but I don't recommend the crab cakes. They tastes like mayo, not so great
(2)William W.
This visit at a Joe's Crab Shack far exceeded my expectations. Our last visit to the one in Daytona Beach was a disaster. The review for that one is below. We were quickly seated, and our drink order was taken. Shortly our drinks were served, and we still needed a few minutes to look over the menu. We placed our order, and the served was very attentive and recalled our order back to us, noting the special requests. Our food arrived as ordered. Everything was great, and we all shared so everyone could have a small sampling of the variety of offerings on the menu. There server returned soon to check on us, and bring drink refills before we ran out. The manager came by and introduced herself to us. I may have been caught taking photos of the food as it arrived, but it's always great to have a member of management stop by, even for a quick hello. A much better experience, and great service!
(4)Mike C.
Ok. So you hate yourself. You have an overwhelming desire to consume frozen seafood that is so abysmal, so breathtakingly bad, and this personal hell can only be completed by the addition of being surrounded by chubby country folks in too tight camo. This is your place. Soak it up, buttercup. The smells, the sights. It's a carnival of disappointment and the big prize at the midway is a giant, stuffed, stinking lobster to call your own. He needs a name. I named mine Leonard.
(1)John G.
HUGELY Disappointed Have eaten here before and returned hoping for the same flavors and quality, got neither tonight and seemed the place was dead. Wound up with a group of 8 other servers who gathered around our table talking about how horrible the place was an so little in tips and the fun of the night was repeatedly talking about somebody who had a detached retina, great things to hear about while eating. I got the steampot with what I hoped was BBQ and the wife got the seafood pan saute platter, both were HEAVILY overcooked. Started showing the manager the crab that you could tell it was WAY overcooked, he just asked if I wanted the same. After a 30 min wait to get this, I answered not to wait that long as we had to pick up some people from the mall before it closed. Bad experience and a manager who seemed to be checked out made me wish for what this place used to be and the fact that I could have had a MUCH better meal for both of us at Marietta Fish Market for a cheaper price. Oh, BBQ was non existent in the crab legs there with even the shrimp being good substitutes for coasters. Don't think we will be going back there again...
(1)Elaine B.
Went to Joe's for an adult birthday party. Called ahead to alert them, but still had to wait when we got there. Food was as described (my shrimp was good, but my husband's crab was bland), but came out segmented so part of the table didn't have food when we were ready to eat. Wait staff acted like our party of 12 was the biggest party they had ever served. They could have been friendlier.
(3)Mark N.
First salad was sent back due to hair in salad. 2nd salad was frozen. Sent it back also. Entree of Mahi Mahi was acceptable but a little fishy
(1)Katherine B.
They say if you don't succeed, try again... well this place is an epic fail! I paid $16 for a plate of fries, where's the seafood??? Such a huge disappointment!
(1)J. S.
We were here in April; great experience gave a $10 donation to Autism Speaks and in return we were given a coupon for a free "classic steampot." We returned today to use the coupon. First we told the waitress we had the free Autism Speaks coupon from last month. Okay.. We order... three buckets of steamed legs. Two were soggy like boiled crab legs and not streamed. The third was good, not great but good. So ticket time, "oh, you can't use that coupon." She took it the manger who says there is no way for her to even discount our bill. I just don't buy that!! So...there is no way this family will be returning. That manager just cost the employees a family that tips 20% and rounds up. I'm giving away a great coupon via Facebook.
(2)Adrienne T.
Just Say NO to Joe! Burnt fried lobster, hollow snow crab legs, odd people. No, Joe, not no mo'.
(1)Jay L.
Being here always brings bck a lot of good remembers from my teenager years. This was a great place for my sister & I to eat great food & have a good time. The service @ Joe's is always exceptional! My sister & I always argue over the last hush puppies b/c there are so good. lol The seafood is always on point. When I crave delicious melt in your mouth seafood. This is where we go!
(5)S S.
My family and I went to celebrate a birthday. We had a party of 7 adults and 2 young children. We arrived a few minutes before 8pm after the evening meal rush. The service was good. We all ordered crab legs and throughly enjoyed ourselves. The food was good. I would recommend this restaurant to families with small kids IF you come at a nonpeak time.
(4)Patrice G.
Was treated wonderfully. Came on mothers day weekend and the wait was not too long. The food was pretty good. This was my first time here and since I didn't know what to order I just chose the Samuel Adams steampot which turned out to be a pretty good choice. I would definitely come back. Plus they have a playground that the kids can enjoy. It's a definite plus.
(4)Edward W.
3.5 stars. Typical Joe's. A crabby TGI Fridays. Lots of crab varieties (sadly, no blue crabs), shrimp and a few other menu items. Good for a casual change of pace, but not a cheap date.
(3)Kischa J.
I love this location. Let me preface this review by saying I dine here so much, they know my name and order. I almost always order to go, but occasionally dine in the restaurant. Never had a bad experience. The classic steampot is my favorite - 2 kinds of crab, shrimp, andouille sausage with corn and potatoes. It's consistent and never lets me down. The staff is amazing. There's always someone to greet you at the door and the servers/management really take care of their repeat customers. Shout out to Brantley and Jeff! I came in today and noticed that they changed the menu *read: increased the prices* on a few items my husband usually orders. Eh. Whatever. It's more of an annoyance than a deterrent. If you're in the area, this place is worth a try. You'll be back.
(4)Jeremy W.
Decided to make this our Friday night family dinner spot for a night. We never have been really wild about this place - but now...even less so. My mother in law got the "snow crab" for $22 which was about the most puny, tiny little bunch of legs we'd ever seen. Looks like the crab must have been sick before they killed it. Nowhere near enough crab for the money they're asking. My father in law's shrimp were battered up to the max to make them look like they were about 3X bigger than they actually were. Long John Silvers uses that trick...you wouldn't expect it from a premium seafood restaurant. My "Queen Crab" legs were of decent size, but only two clusters for $26? Really? And now - here's another thing. Instead of just bringing out the drawn butter - you have to ASK for it and the servers aren't allowed to suggest it. The long and the short it of...the quality just isn't here - at all. This has become a place that cuts corners and serves up ultra cheap seafood at premium prices. No thanks...we've darkened their door for the last time.
(1)Kyle W.
The classic bucket, Mahi fish & chowder had no taste what so ever. Mgmt & Service was good, mgr took the mahi dish off. I would go back for apps only.
(3)T-Boogie A.
Me and my son are the only two of our family that come here being that the other two are allergic to shellfish. Yes, I know they have land food, but when someone has a shellfish allergy as bad as Will Smith in Hitch, you stay FAR FAR away! Anywho, drink are always good. Crab always yummy. Sometimes they will overcook the shrimp though if you get a pot broil, so be sure to specify to put those in last. For desert my son always wants the smores skillet thingy. It's REALLY good, but only a kid could eat something that sweet in that quantity and enjoy it fully! lol All in all Joe's is a great place. But if it's your bday, watch out. You WILL have to get up and "shake it" ;o)
(4)Logan D.
We love this Joe's Crab Shack. My family comes here all the time. The kids just love the crab. The food and service here is consistently fabulous. Thing I like. 1. The food. It is always good. My husband and I get a steam pot for 2. It is often more than we can finish and they don't skimp on the crab. My youngest stepson like crab so much we often get him a steam pot for one off the regular menu because he will eat it all but for the other kids they have an amazing kids menu. They have kids steam pots for $10 and other great stuff for $5. 2. OMG a playground at a real restaurant!! Yes that is right a real playground too, not those crappy indoor things, that now often have video games, that fast food places have. The kids can go play till the food gets there and I get to have a real grown up conversation. 3. The service here is amazing and if there is every a problem management will take care of you right away. It's a fun atmosphere and I think it must draw really fun personable people. 4. The atmosphere is really fun. If you don't like dancing staff and upbeat music this place is not for you. I love the funny things they write on the bibs. 5. The souvenir cups are great. Most middle of the road chains have these now a days but the ones they have here are the best and really fit my husbands personal style. I don't drink at all and my husband only drinks on occasion but he gets one every time we come. The last ones we got at my husbands birthday party and like ceramic red solo cups and before that tiki glasses and mason jar glasses. 6. The patio is the nicest in the area and it is right next to the playground. What I don't like. 1. Patio seating can be hit or miss as far as getting greeted right away. If the patio isn't busy there isn't a server assigned it and your server may not know you are there. Typically I have found that if no one has talked to you in 5 minutes, no one will talk to you in 15 minutes and it's best to grab someone and let them know you have been overlooked before you have had your night ruined so you can enjoy how awesome everything else is.
(5)Renee S.
Sat at table for 15 mins with no server till the server to the table next to us realized we hadnt been waited on. She apologized and took on the table. Dont know why the host would seat us at a table with no server. Its a tiny place so its not that hard. The server was efficient and nice and the snow pot for 2 was YUMMY. And what is up with the plastic thing they give us to break the crab now? And the bib. Its a shame this is the only Joe's in this area.
(3)Rick J.
When I am at Joe's I order a tropical rum drink and, for just a moment, close my eyes. It feels like I am back in the Bahamas. Except at Joe's the staff is competent. And the place is clean. And the drinks are strong and the food is good. Except for those things, yes, it's just like the Bahamas. I sit outside on the patio. It feels laid back, hot, and breezy. It's a great way to unwind Friday after work or to enjoy a leisurely Saturday. With regard to food, Joe's has a good variety of seafood, plus land dishes. I enjoy the seafood, but the non-seafoodies with me tell me the steaks are quite good. The last couple of times, our waitress had a wickedly sarcastic sense of humor (in a good way). She had me laughing the entire meal. I give her a 5-Star Plus rating. (If you prefer waitstaff that is personality-free, your mileage may vary.) In the Yelp review system, 4 Stars means "Yay! I'm a fan." That about sums it up. I highly recommend.
(4)Kim E.
Was treated very kindly from walking in. Eric our waiter was really nice! He was kind of funny also. I ordered the kj steampot which has crab legs, mussels, scallops, potatoes and corn. It was really good and I would order it again. I especially liked the mussels because I'm a mussel lover. I probably would get something else with more of those next time because mussels are so small and you have to eat a buttload of them to be happy. Pretty good seafood for a chain. I always think crab is fun to eat because you have to work for your food.. It's messy work lol. Luckily they provide a wet napkin for you to wipe your hands with after and a roll of paper towels
(5)Melissa K.
I was really in the mood for some crab and didn't really feel like making it myself. My sister had eaten at other Joe's locations and said that the food was really good. The best way to describe both the food and service at this location is as if they had thrown 6 interceptions in the first quarter of the game. We ordered one of the special appetizers and were disappointed in finding that one part wasn't even seafood. When it came to the main course the shrimp was like bitting into shoe leather and the snow crab clusters were missing a couple of legs each, as well as most of the lump meat. The food was also lukewarm. Our server spent most of the time chatting at the bar with her boyfriend and couldn't break herself away long enough to bring us our own food. I couldn't get out of there fast enough! The food did not match the description and was way overpriced for the quality. You could do much better and I will not be going back!
(1)Kat W.
Went here with visions of steampots in my head, what I got was a plate of seafood in a pot. Which is I guess the same but not really... So walking in after not being in a Joe's for years I forgot how ticky tacky the place is and sorta reminded why I haven't been back in years. But we braved it because steampots were dancing in my head. Service was good, not great. Food was just well food. The coastal wave steampot wasn't anything I couldn't do at home for possibly cheaper. I say that because the seasoning was flat and I could have done better. Now after saying that the crab was the high point of the meal. Wasn't hot, salted just right but no spices. Shrimp were over cooked, potatoes under cooked. Corn was decent, nowhere near hot or even warm. Matter of fact most of the pot was cool temperature wise. Also ordered the Mahi fish, over cooked and dry. Vegetables that came with it were under cooked with some of the brownest potatoes I've ever seen. Would I come back, not for the price I paid. But if someone wants to pay for me to complain in person, sure. Side note--the dancing done by the waitstaff is really really sad to watch. I feel so sorry for them and for those (me!!!) who had to watch them castrate themselves for minimum wage.
(2)Michael O.
I like this place! I've eaten here several times! It's like the "Non-Black People's Red Lobster" LOL! Often times me and whom ever I'm with at the time are the select few blacks in there! LOL! BUT, at Red Lobster, It's ALMOST always 94.7% Minority! LOL! But the food is good, it's loud in there and their staff is friendly and efficient! I fuck's with "JCS" Last time I went, I had the Fried Oyster app..."Hated It!" LOL! But I've had there other dishes and haven't been let down, so it's all good! :-)
(4)Jason D.
I've had a great time every time I come. I usually sit at the bar when I'm flying solo because the bartenders are always so energetic and fun to talk to. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is awesome.
(4)Lane M.
The queen crabs were pretty good, nice fast service. Nothing to brag about. The place has the "shack" feel, a little to commercial for my liking. I would go back if I had to.
(3)Cindy W.
We've had pretty good luck with JCS around Florida, but this location just doesn't cut it...even after a few tries... :( Service was average, but the food was pretty awful and the prices were average too. I wouldn't want a repeat here.
(2)Gale L.
Out hotel gave us a free appetizer coupon for Joe's Crab Shack in Kennesaw, Ga. so of course we took advantage of it. We were so glad that we did - the food was AWESOME and our waitress, Kavi, was the bomb! Service was great! We ordered the Original Steam Pot for two & The Classic Sampler and enjoyed it immensely. Every half hour or so the waitress are called upon to entertain the customers by dancing well rehearsed routines. The specialty drinks are to die for - We had the Shark Bite, Tie Dye Swirl & the Mason Jar Margarita - which I got to keep the jar! AND they have a huge outdoor playground for the kiddies! There is something for everyone here. We can't wait to return!
(5)Heather S.
Every time I come here, it seems like the food quality slips just a little bit more.. and the prices just keep going up every time. I've never had bad service here, though occasionally the server has had to leave while taking my order. Why? To go dance to a stupid song, of course! They turn on a stupid disco ball, and play a song (the chicken dance song, cotton eye joe, etc) that the servers have to "dance" to. God forbid they have a birthday in the restaurant. It's nice that they try to provide atmosphere, but I'm really not into disco balls and badly dancing servers while I'm trying have dinner. Other than this, though, the service has always been prompt and polite. The steampots are ok, as is the clam chowder and the lobster bisque. The crawfish half and half USED to be really good, but now the etouffee is bland, the rice is.. rubbery?? and the fried crawfish tails are completely flavorless. My father had the fish and chips plate this time. The fish looked ok, but the fries were WAY too salty. I won't be going back for awhile.
(2)Malik T.
Love it went with my wife and will surely go again. staff is wonderful and very friendly. The manager even goes around to every table to make sure everything is going well thanks guys for a wonderful service.
(5)DeeAnn S.
I love the atmosphere and my kids loved the playground when they were younger. I think there drinks are overpriced and there isn't much liquor in them. The food is good but for the price not as good as Red Lobster.
(3)Jeff L.
This isn't a place I would ordinarily come on my own accord. However, my In-Laws were in town visiting from Toronto and had seen some commercials for Joe's Crab Shack and wanted to visit. My wife and I had been pushing for the delicious Catfish Jim's, but we were outvoted and found ourselves dining one evening at the Crab Shack. I'll start by saying that, like some others have noted, this was just about the worst service I've ever experienced. We came in and were seated quickly. However, we sat for over 15 minutes before anyone came by our table at all. When someone finally did, it was the manager, who took our drink / dinner orders. He didn't really know the menu very well and so the ordering process really didn't go very smoothly. In any event, about 10 minutes later our waiter came by and said that he'd now be taking care of us. No explanation as to why he was missing, or an apology for the long wait. I'll also add that at three points during the meal, we were interrupted: twice for birthdays, and once for a song-and-dance show. The birthday announcements were obnoxious, and the song-and-dance routine was downright painful (3 minutes of disco lights and watching the waiters "dance" to Cotton-Eye Joe). For food, my father-in-law ordered the Crab Cakes, I ordered the Crawfish Half and Half and the rest ordered two steam pots: The Bean Town Bake, and the Crab Daddy. I would love to say that the food more than made up for the bad service, but it didn't, not by a long shot. The crab cakes were poorly made and were falling apart. It was more like sauteed crab meat than an actual crab cake. The crawfish half and half consists of crawfish etouffee and fried crawfish tails. The etouffee was fairly bland and the crawfish tails were decidedly overcooked. The main problem with this dish is that when you fry the crawfish tails, they lose their character and taste like any other small, fried seafood (e.g., popcorn shrimp, fried clams). The steam pots looked promising, but were also disappointing. Firstly, everything tastes like it was frozen, then steamed. On top of that, some of the seafood was overcooked (and a bit rubbery). People also complained that they didn't give enough in the way of fillers (corn, potatoes, etc.). You do get a decent amount of seafood, but once you remove the shells, you're not left with a ton of meat. In the end, the two steam pots (their most expensive ones) were barely enough to feed three people. And at roughly $40 for the Bean Town Bake, that's a bit expensive for what you get. All in all, I was not happy with the experience at Joe's Crab Shack. The food was all right at best, and I think that you don't get a lot of bang for your buck here. One of my biggest problems is that when I come to a restaurant, I want to dine on something that I cannot easily do myself at home. To me, their steam pots boil down (no pun intended) to steaming seafood with some corn and potatoes, and sprinkling some seasoning throughout. That's nothing that can't easily (and more cheaply) be replicated at home. The rest of their food just wasn't all that good. All in all, not a place I intend on returning to.
(2)Danielle M.
I was on vacation visiting family when I saw Joe's Crab Shack while shopping. Since I haven't seen one in New York, I decided to give it a try. I loved it. The waiter I had was nice and gave me suggestions on what to try. I tried the KJ Steampot which was an assortment of crab, mussels, and scallops marinated in a wine sauce. It tasted great. I also tried the margarita which was not too strong but otherwise, I have no complaints. It can be expensive depending on what you get. However, I think it's worth it.
(4)Berlin B.
This review is basically a review of myself, "1 star to me for making the mistake of coming in here. 2 stars to Joe's for getting in here". What was I thinking? Joe's Crab Shack is yet another example of why most people tend to hate chain restaurants. Why has it gotten this bad? Why? You could drag, drag someone off the street and they could come up with better recipes than this fast food restaurant wrapped in crappy, tacky sea world, Pirates of the Caribbean decorations from Walmart. You don't have to feel like a snob if you turn down this chain, you are a just a smart foodie. And I don't mean to single out this particular restaurant, I have been to a couple of Captain D's, I mean Joe's Crab Shack. The food all tastes the same, horrible but at least the managers and wait staff make up for with song and dance, lights turning off and on. But they have to work really, really hard because the food is...bad. First, I went in for Catfish. They don't serve that anymore for whatever reason. So, catfish is out. They don't normally put some of the types of fish fillets on the menu. I guess I would have to take the fish surprise. The other options are the Captain's platter which is a Captain D's combination of scallops, shrimp, fish fillet. I say Captain D's because it takes like Captain D's and they charge you 4 times as much. The Captain's platter thing cost $14-15 at Joe's and a lot less at Captain D's. But it takes like frozen, microwaved Craptain D's to me. I have tried their other dish, just more of the same. Fast food with with the $10 a plate restaurant fee. The popcorn shrimp looks and tastes like the shrimp from Publix. The yellow rice was overcooked and wouldn't have tasted good if it was cooked right. There are some basic fish dishes like Salmon on rice pilaf that as bad as the other fried dishes, but too is overpriced and crap. I may stop in 5 years from now after my stomach has recovered and try the fish enchilada. That is one dish that didn't seem too bad. And I will be honest, I haven't tried the crab at Joe's crab shack. I am being smart and not wanting to have to visit a doctor. They were lucky enough to get me in there, I won't step out too far and actually get myself killed with some month old crab or other shell fish. Summary: slow, over-priced, food was and will always be horrible, noisy. Thanks for tricking me into eating here. At least you got the marketing right. Note: I am not particular attacking the food at this particular franchise. I have been in this place, but most of my comments apply to all of the restaurants. A lot businesses in America follow the practice, "If we sell it, you will buy it". And this is true, Joe's was open and I have been here to buy their crappy food. Score for them, they got my money.
(1)Frank F.
Had a great time with the kids for my Birthday. Service was great. Randy and Frank the managers were really good making sure the boys had a good time. The food was good. I highly recommend.
(5)Robert C.
I am a fan of Joe's. I get good service and food. Never had a problem with service. Never waited longer than 5 minutes to be seated and a server was always prompt. This is not your gourmet seafood, but it hits the spot. Never really ventured past the snow crab. But they have a new spicy seasoning that has replaced my normal garlic flavor. Remember there is always free crab tomorrow ;)
(4)