Joe’s Crab Shack

Normally enjoy Joe’s. Must have been a really off night. Terrible server– can’t tell you her name, she never introduced herself. Took 20 minutes to get drinks– 45 minutes to get her to return to take our food order. Guess we got crappy service since we were a party of 8 and were automatically qualified for the gratuity. Such a disappointment. Hopefully the next guest gets better service.

Ginger Dungeness Crab was excellent. Spicy shrimp was fresh and tasty. Hurricane was very good. Good table side service but server forgot take home orders. Long wait but good company to share sweet key lime pie with!

The only thing I can say is wow. This place set a new standard for crap. My wife got the artic bay steam pot, it wasn’t that bad. She had to send it back because the put a ton of seasoning on it, but the second time it wasn’t that bad. I had the southern style shrimp, and it was absolute crap. The French fries had so much salt on them I might as well had a salt lick. The shrimp where way over cooked. Our apitizer was cheese sticks, over done. The icing on top of the cake was that from my seat I could see into a part of the kitchen. I saw twice a cook get a beer out of the fridge and take a drink, TWICE. it dose explain why the food was so bad. We informed the manager but I got the impression that he already new what was going on. We will never eat at another Joe’s Crab Shack again l. For the money go some where they know how to cook sea food.
Update: My wife talk to the store manger who was very rude and condescending. She informed my wife that the «corporate office has been made aware of the situation.» She then informed my wife that it impossible for me to see the cook drinking a beer. My wife informed her that from my seat i can see right in to the kitchen. Then she asked if it could have been a root beer? In my best judgement it wasnt a root bee, judging by the food if thats how he cooks sober then they have bigger problems. Then she went on the attack and said if the food was so bad then why didnt i send it back. to be honest i knew as soon as i saw the food come to my table this is going to be bad. I find it really hard to believe that upper management would treat a complaint like this. I didnt want my money back i dont want free food, all i was doing was informing them that have a problem. The manager of this place has no idea how to deal with people.

Service was excellent ! Best hurricane I have had in a while. Large portions of food, all of it good. Little on the expensive side but had a great time. You must order the hurricane when you go !!

Service not that bad. Food is mediocre, but they have location on their side. No other seafood around this area.
The coconut shrimp with sweet dipping sauce is still the best thing on the menu. Hubby had catfish (tasted frozen) and calamari was really tough.
Wish someone would come along and give them a run for their money.

This location is the best one to go to. Love the drink specials they during the middle of the week. Recommend getting the Rajun Cajun or the Garlic steam pot.

The one star is for our server, who was ok. I have always loved Joes since frequently visiting the Oceanside, Ca location. I was craving seafood tonight and decided to try this location out.
The place was packed which immediately made us think, they’re really good. I decided on the East Coast platter and my husband the fish and chips. Horrible. My platter was filled with dry French fries and onion strings, a very salty crab cake and a bland fried fish fillet. My husbands fish and chips had no seasoning and very greasy. The clam chowder tasted like it was from a can. The only great thing about this was the Dr. Pepper. We really wanted to give it more stars, but left very disappointed. Needless to say we won’t be coming back. Save your money and go to Red Lobster. We wish we had.

Absolutely fantastic experience. The food was wonderful and came out lightning fast. Our server, Ryan, was fun and so attentive. The energy and atmosphere was right on the money. We haven’t been to Joe’s in ages, but will definitely be back. Love this place!

Um, I cam e here to enjoy some crab but I couldn’t because my daughter ate it all! This little 13 year old girl ate 3 buckets of crab!!! I was in awe and couldn’t get mad at her for wanting mine. I was in the middle of eating my stuffed mushrooms while she was snacking on my crab legs. Even the place was SLOW, out waiter was very kind and attentive and he made my experience fun. He wasn’t just about business either, he got to know me on a personal level, we talked about the Dallas Cowboys and things like that. I had a fun time and drove almost 2 hours to get there from the country town I was staying in for a couple of days.

First time to try the Redfish and Lobster Sauce. I had a nice shirt on so I didn’t want to crack crab all over it; I tend to get messy, lol! Anyway, it was presented almost exactly as the picture in the menu, but light with the Lobster chunks. The Lobster Sauce wasn’t what I expected. I was expecting a more creamy and rich sauce. The Redfish was cooked well.

I had two to go in last couple days so food isn’t bad but I am giving three star since my order on 2 pound shrimp with spicy boil was actually seasoned with garic butter instead.

I really really wanted to like this place. Been here several times and always forget why I never go till I give them another chance…
The food is expensive and taste like it came out of a drive thru window. It taste cheap, frozen and is just not good. Then they charge you like your getting a fresh caught chef inspired entre.
Next the staff is RUDE!!! Oh my goodness they do not want to be there, they have no leader keeping them up and smiles and energy, they hate you for coming in, is the vibe I get every time I’m here. How do they keep their doors open?
The sad thing is… It could be awesome! I would not mind if they charged a little more if they actually had a chef and fresh sea food. We’re 4 hours from the gulf!!! Come on! The décor makes you feel like your at the beach. Get your servers in line and happy and excited and serve some really great food and this could be HUGE!!!
Hopefully I’ll find a good seafood place

Sea food is hard to come buy in our inland city. Glad to get more than fish and chips. We have eaten here maybe 3 times over several years. Consistent food quality and quantity. Usually more than you can eat in one setting. Doggie bag here I come. Low on oil. Stop in and cap yourself off. A bussing place with a lot of energy. Casual atmosphere.

The food was great for lunch… The waitress was also the bartender so she was a little to busy to refill drinks… The other waitress was making messes on the floor with drinks and instead of cleaning it up she walked away. In the mean time our purse was under our chair and it got all over the purse. Manager at this restaurant was awesome… He is a great guy!!! We love going there just had a bad day with the waitresses… It happens still would go back and ask for the reg waitress we usually get!!! Missed her today!!!

Really more of a 2.5 star because the food is so overpriced for the quality… food was better than the last time I came though…
Wasn’t very hungry, so I was going to get some clam chowder… the waiter kind of cringed and said «you’re at how’s crab shack and you want soup?» Then he told me that it came out of a bag, which might not be that bad, but I wasn’t going to try to prove him wrong.
I ordered the catfish platter… fish was okay, but there were only 3 small pieces, tartar sauce was lacking. Had some of my friend’s «queen crab» basket, the meat was pretty tender and didn’t fall apart when peeling. Ordered 3 half dozen oysters (chargrilled, raw, and steamed)…was pretty decent, but definitely not worth the 11 dollars each half dozen… I only come here to eat when someone suggests, I really hope if don’t have to again lol

Great foods, wish there was more for the price. Server was good.
Very noisy not recommended for grandma & grand pa.

Ok, not great. Fun atmosphere. Overpriced for what you get! The service was good and waiter was very nice. The playground for the kids is a great idea if the weather is nice.

Excellent seafood in Texas is not found at this restaurant. When you walk in it smells like fish. Bad fish. Our waitress was friendly enough. A little too chatty but honest about the choices. She didn’t have a lot of good things to say about the food…
I ordered a cup of clam chowder $ 3.95 and the goin’ shrimpin’ $ 13.95. My friend ordered a Cajun steam pot which he seemed to enjoy $ 29.99. The soup was very bland but pretty chunky. My plate was very large with a bunch of fries on it. They were tasty. The shrimp was pretty good too. Very filling. Everything was fried though. The waitress brought out a side of this cheesy seafood sauce for a friend’s chicken plate and it was gross. No one wanted to touch it. It was full grease. Just grease and little bit of cheese and mushrooms. Yuck.
All in all I wouldn’t go back to this place but I’ve had worse.

I can’t believe I’ve never been to Joe’s before! I really like the selection and the ability to modify an order. I’ll definitely be back to visit my local Joe’s. Get crackin’!

Let me start off by saying that I absolutely love seafood and I have been coming to Joes since I was a child and they would humiliate me on my birthday by making me ride a wooden horse and sing to myself.
The prices are intense here and you usually won’t get your money’s worth. For the 30 $ steam pot with crab legs, claws and oysters, you will get about half of the cost and your hunger will not be satiated. Don’t even think about buying alcohol here unless it is 2 $ Tuesday because you’ll spend about 4 $ for a single beer.
The food is so-​so. We really enjoyed the «Big Easy Bites» which came with fried shrimp and crawfish and a side of fried pickles. It was all cooked well and had great flavor. Especially loved the fried pickles.
I had the Orleans steam pot which came with very little shrimp, crawfish and a corn on the cob. It did not, however, come with boiled red potatoes and was doused in creole seasoning. My food was so spicy that I could hardly finish it and I LOVE spicy food.
The singing and dancing waitresses, cheap shirts and playground for the kiddos is not worth the empty pockets or empty stomach you’ll end up with when you leave.