Stone Crabs in Miami area

[Ed in Needham]

Let's try this again. Are there alternative options to Joe's for Stone Crabs or is this the best I'll find? My last visit, I found the service unfriendly and the prices high.

[netmover]

You hit the nail on the head! And the crabs can be hit or miss too. The fact of the matter is the servers have no time to be very friendly, it's just too busy. They are like robots in fact! I suppose if you are a regular and know many of them because you go 3 times a week, they "may" treat you a little differently? It's a churn and burn type place so you really cannot take that against them. Service is usually smooth and efficient though.

As for official "crab" restaurants, that's kind of dicey down here since it's based only on a 6 month season. There are few if any restaurants who can survive on 6 months revenue the way Joe's does.

Therefore, we go to the river to get our crabs (fresher and 1/4 the price), swing by Joes for the side dishes and mustard sauce then take them home, to the beach, South Point Park or a friends house. After you've been to Joe's a bazillion times the thrill is shall we say, not what it used to be. Whenever someone from afar comes to town who has never been there, or who has only been there a few times we will oblige, but by and large we successfully utilize the above formula.

There may be other good places out there, I am just drawing a blank. Actually, Garcias on the river just came to mind, or Casablanca right next door to them. No tuxedos and hoopla, just a rustic river setting with lower high prices.

It's tuff to jusitfy paying 40 bux for a pound of large crabs when you can buy them at a seafood market for 18 or so.

Garcias usually charges 20+ whereas Joe's will hit you 40.

Buen provecho amigo.

[LargeLife]

I think as a South Floridian your recipe is proven and solid....and stone crabs have been at an all-time low on the market......I've eaten stone crabs at a the places you've mentioned....and they're very good.....But I've been to Joe's so many times....and for whatever reason....they just don't taste the same....and cant figure out exactly why......I happen to think it's because of the serving temp......And like it or not....Joe's is an institution....it's pricey....it's consistent.....the crabs taste the best.....the sides are incredible.....the service is highly professional and you want for nothing......Two schools of thought.....I respect both....but the crabs taste best at Joe's.........and there are alot of smart people out there that can buy stone crabs anywhere.....and yet they don't......And it's not hard to figure out.....

Emac

[Ed in Needham]

Thanks both for the input. It helps verify that Joe's may be the only/best show in town.

Ed

[netmover]

I spoke with a self declared expert over the holidays who told me Joe's gets their crabs from the Caymans? That they are not even local? He also went on to say they can be days old? He says he calls Casablanca to find out where they're from and when they were boiled! Dude is a serious fisherman and knows his cuisines well. He went on to say when they still have that foam on them, they are the freshest. Joe's may be the "best", but the post clearly asks for alternatives.

[Frodnesor]

There are certainly other places you can go - Casablanca and Garcia's have already been mentioned, Monty's is another option. Plus many other restaurants that do not traffic exclusively in stone crabs will often have them in season. I've not had them at Casablanca or Garcia's, but I've not found Monty's to be of the same quality as Joe's. They're somewhat pricy anywhere though a bit less at places other than Joe's.

One lesson that may help is to not get the big'uns. I always go with the selects (between medium and large), which are pretty moderately priced and in any event have better flavor and texture to my taste than the larger ones, though they're more work.

I find the service at Joe's brusque and efficient in an old school New York steakhouse kind of way. They do their job and they do it efficiently. They don't coddle people but I don't think they're rude either.

[Auger]

You can always go directly to where Joe's get their crabs. Keys Fisheries in Marathon. http://keysfisheries.com/ Its owned by the same family as Joe's. New Times did a write up of a company that sells at Pinecrest Gardens Farmers Market. http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/shorto...
There was a guy at the UES farmers market but I dont know if he's still there.

[netmover]

Monty's is spot on for their Bayfront Happy Hour Raw Bar in a Boat M-F 4-8pm if I am not mistaken! 2 medium Stoners for 6 bux. I just had family in who insisted I take them back to the raw bar by the bay. Alton and 4th Street in South Beach. They also offer clams, oysters and peel and eat shrimp. Try their She Crab soup which is mighty tasty too!

[Ed in Needham]

I like the Monty's suggestion. What's better than Happy Hour, Raw Bar, waterfront, and drinks! Sounds like a winning combo to me.

Thanks
Ed

[flavrmeistr]

Joe's has a take-out window, which is more economical than being seated in the restaurant. Also, there is Billy's Stone Crab in Hollywood on A1A, which is a little less expensive than Joe's.

[iiwchef]

Will agree that there are far better choices as a local for the delicasy of the sea than the institution that is JOES..but hey hail to the chief as it is this institution that put stone crabs in the elite food group that they so deserve....but hey the price...nothing better than to go to the source...The keys...Everglades city and just go to the docks....take a lime with you and crack on site if you all want the real deal...forget the mustard forget the sides as its all about the crabs...see you all the the Stone Crab fest in key largo on January 30th....

[Leemart]

Captain Jim's Seafood Restaurant at 12950 West Dixie Highway, North Miami, FL 33161
[phone] serves stone crab claws at a great savings over Joe's. Captain Jim Hanson combines a seafood market with the restaurant and although the ambiance is lacking, the seafood is extremely fresh, well prepared, and priced right. I only get to Miami about once a year, but every time I head for Capt. Jim's. Try it, you'll like it.

[LargeLife]

I've been to Capt. Jim's and had a reasonably good experience and would recommend as well. I've also been to the docks in Everglades City and obviously the crabs are obviously fresh and tasty. But I'm sorry, the "Joe's Experience" just can't be beat. The crabs are A-1 Fresh, they served at an exact temperature, cracked for you, the mustard and the sides are absolutely delicious and the service is crisp, clean and professional. And the price, for that experience on South Beach isn't prohibitive. I also have no problem to eat at Joe's Take Away. Fight for a table, get your claws, pie and chopped salad then go to it! And no big tip at the end! A bunch of different ways to skin a cat and I've tried many of them, but the fact is, stone crabs at Joe's taste better there than at anywhere else you can eat them and I'm obviously not the only one who thinks this.

EMac

[Ed in Needham]

Thanks all for the input. For the record, my friends and I went to Monte's in Miami Beach. Happy hour featured half price drinks and raw bar. Med. claws/2 for $8, large shrimp/4 for $3, oysters/4 for $3, clams/4 for $3. They were great and we feasted two nights. Happy hour from 4-8 Mon-Fri. Gets crowded by 6.

We also went to the Key Largo Stone Crab festival. Only good thing was the food. Stone crabs were great. 6 for $15. Unfortunately, the lines were long and the crafts were disappointing.

Next, looking to buy claws wholesale in Lauderdale area for next visit in March. Ideas?

Ed

[CJT]

Prior to visitng Florida last month, I researched this board for seafood recommendations and found one that praises Catfish Dewey's place in Oakland Park just south of Commercial Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. I just posted on this place myself (Florida Trip Report PBI to FLL) and mentioned how please we were at Catfish Dewey's. They were offering all-you-can-eat medium claws for $45, but I got the 2-pound plate for $30 instead. It included 12 delicious already-cracked claws, plus 2 sides.
We also found the catfish specials outstanding for value, flavor, and preparation. Not all that far from Miami.

[mrschef1]

My husband and I love Catfish Dewey's! It's an old school seafood house, with different all-u-can-eat specials nightly, 4003 N Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, [phone]. They have a website with details on availability of stone crabs, www.catfishdeweys.com, as they get them in fresh daily and the quantity varies. I've eaten at Joe's literally dozens of times and I like Dewey's better. The service is exceptional. Unlike many so-called "unlimited" offers, I have not once had to ask for a second basket of claws. The waitress just refills the bowl on the way past your table (with a smile). We always have to ask them to stop. It's unbelievable. They offer different sizes and quantities, as the previous poster mentioned. I think its 1 lb. 2 lbs. or all-u-can-eat in each size available that night. They also throw in the sides, but they will cut into your ability to gorge on those marvelous stoners!

[LargeLife]

I will try Catfish Dewey's as I always like to try new places....it's what I do! But when you look at the prices, it's not like it's all that much cheaper than Joe's. All u can eat for medium claws is a good deal for a guy like me that's 6'7 and 320lbs and can REALLY eat. But for your AVERAGE person (male or female) that's pricey (for what you really CAN eat!). What you get for a serving at Joe's is comparably priced considering the a al carte high-level sides, the incredibly professional service, the atmosphere and the EXPERIENCE that is Joe's Stone Crabs. It reads like I'm an attorney for Joe's but I'm not. I just happen to happen to be a silent partner in a well-established catering company and I study "food value" all of the time and if you're not going crazy and ordering multiple bottles of wine and drinks at Joe's, it's a very good value. Fun to hang out at the bar at Joe's right now just to see all the celebrities that are in town during Super Bowl week! And yes, I will try Catfish Dewey's! Why not?

Emac