Joe's Stone Crab
We have to admit we only became curious about Miami's own range of crustacean fare after being told on several occasions by our cousins in Massachusetts about the superior availability of crab on their trips up to the Cape. It seemed to us that our own part of the Atlantic might also be just as good a source for some excellent catch to rival what the New England Cousins were boasting about. So it was while we were crawling in traffic along Washington Avenue around the noon-day hour one day that we finally made a virtue of necessity and stopped for lunch at Joe's Stone Crab. Of course we'd seen it before in passing, but this seemed like the ideal seafood outlet to sample the quality of freshly prepared, locally caught crab. The verdict? We don't think we were wrong. Of course, the wide cross-section of diners we saw going in and out on this and subsequent visits probably also indicates that Joe's Stone Crab wins a general endorsement from all types of discriminating seafood lovers -- be it local power lunchers, casual lunchtime local diners, or repeat visitors who travel and have come to know what's finest in seafood in this part of town.
While crab may be the heart, soul and history behind this establishment, you immediately become aware from the dishes being served around you that Joe's Stone Crab has long since ventured successfully into its own recipes for everything from shrimp and lobster to steaks and fowl. Still, we will vouch first-hand for what we sampled thus far and found to be superb, namely the Mega Lump Crab Meat Cocktail which together with a Joe's Famous Cole Slaw, was already enough to satisfy lunch-hour cravings. Then there was the Medium Stone Crabs we had on a more recent return visit; we have to confess some of this came home with us in a doggie bag since there was truly no room elsewhere for it in one sitting. But browse their menu online yourself and you will see what we mean by enticing diversity still to be explored - there's everything on the seafood entrees from Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes to Ginger Salmon Fillet to Swordfish to Maine Lobster. Local friends with much lengthier dining experience at Joe's insist that we should also consider some of the items under thier Prime Meats & Fowl on future visits, citing the filet mignon, rack of lamb, and tenderloin as being standouts. The side orders complement the main entrees with their own excellent preparation; we chose the grilled tomatoes on one occasion and the sauteed asparagus on another, but there is something for every palate here too.
More than just a dining experience, a meal at Joe's Stone Crab is savoring some local history through the palate, with Joe's a local landmark in Miami Beach for over 96 years. We liked the classic but casual ambience -- rich-looking woods, plush banquettes, black-and-white tiling---along with the fact that this is a no-reservation restaurant, although that means choosing your time with some care. An institution that survives this long is forever in demand. If you cannot wait, then your Plan B might be to opt for Joe's Take-Away, which lets you order out many of the items found on the main menu, plus a mouth-watering selection of sandwich variations.
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Joe's Stone Crab - 11 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; Tel: (305) 673-0635; Joe's Take-Away - Tel: (305) 673-4611