Joe's Stone Crab: High-Calibur Goodness in a Fading Calibur Area

South Beach is a forever-evolving speck of land that receives millions of visitors trying to cram into the dozen available parking spaces. Sexy restaurants prop up left and right as little by little your old-school South Beach places are going under or are getting shunned in favor of the glamorous entourage of hip and high-class eateries. So with the culture evolving and growing in certain sections, other restaurants that used to be in high-traffic areas are suddenly looking a little abandoned.

Enter Joe’s Stone Crab. I have known about this place for years because of its legal monopoly-like stranglehold in the stone crab industry---its access to a type of crab that roams the South Florida oceans that can regenerate its claws which allows for tons of delicious seafood while minimizing the amount of actual population draining. I know of the place. But when I actually go find the place, it was shockingly out of the way when compared to the other spots in South Beach.

It is about 1-2 miles away from the Calle Ocho scene, the Washington Drive scene, the area of the beach with the most ambiance, and even away from Prime 112—which is also notoriously in the boondocks of the South Beach vibe. It almost felt like walking into a trap as it was located smack dab in the middle of heavy construction and not much else. Wait, they are offering free parking?



Not sure what to anticipate now.

Luckily the inside of the restaurant was far better than the outer surroundings. Like I said before, South Beach is always under construction to try to meet the demands of the South Florida scene. The place had the high-class theming, the high-class setting, and the entire staff was decked out in professionalism. There was a chef in front of a glass case displaying the entourage of crab, lobster, and shrimp offerings within the restaurant (and the bar…which makes it very Floridian).

My main reason for the visit was to hand my mom the ultimate Mother’s Day present for a mom that happens to be a crab fanatic: a chance to try some of the highest-acclaimed crab in all of Florida. Now the menu was decked out with tons of offerings and in rather north prices, but they do advertise that sharing is accepted and expected—similar to the also-expensive Prime 112. Sharing was a necessity because the stone crab cost over $50 by itself without any sides. That was going to hurt.

We ordered 5 of the large stone crab claws, and then combined that with some lobster tacos. The stone crab claws themselves don’t have anything added, it was as pure as it gets. It also came with a special house-made mustard sauce. The claws were an absolute battle to get through, especially for someone like me that lacks the experience fighting food---this is why I never order lobster. But once the fighting finishes (and those claws will indeed put up a fight) and you try some of the meat, you are in for some of the heartiest, thickest, juiciest, and sweetest crabmeat this side of the hemisphere. And the extremely creamy and flavorful mustard sauce improved upon the meal in every single conceivable way. Even though its only 5 claws, its actually enough to fill you up altogether---crab and their delicious bread starter is enough to fill the stomach.

The lobster tacos was a medley of flavors, ranging from the tangy/fruity variety right down to the heat from the fried lobster chunks. The blend of chill and heat combined with the taco crunch and soft lobster created the perfect combination to satisfy all the taste buds. And of course I combined this with the mustard. I assure you, Joe’s Stone Crab Mustard Sauce can enhance anything, potentially even Golden Corral cuisine. That being said, the price tags are nasty, you better be coming here when finances are smiling upon you.

Mission accomplished as my mom fell in love with the stone crab here, and she didn’t need anything else. But of course we wind up ordering coffee and dessert regardless. Key lime pie was considered the specialty according to our chef. The pie here was quite delicious, but it’s hard to top those made in the outskirts of Key West (Especially the key lime pie dipped in chocolate). It was a great dinner in a nice setting, even if the surroundings look like Miami abandoned the place a long time ago.

Bottom Line: Once you get past the sexy glitz and glamour of South Beach (some will argue why you would want to) you will find a place that used to be the pinnacle of high class during the olden days. While the scene has diminished, the restaurant itself still serves acclaimed food and has a beautiful indoor setting to accompany it. While the prices may make you die inside, you’ll get the complete package of great service and even better food. This place is not going to warrant a weekly visit, but once you muster the financial courage you’ll be able to taste some of the best seafood in South Florida, especially coming from the crab category.


Final Verdict: Recommend


Joe’s Stone Crab
11 Washington Ave,
Miami Beach, FL 33139