Joe’s Crab Shack

Love the food and the service here. Staff is great!!! Love the Mardi Gras Drink!!!

This afternoon I dined at Joe’s to celebrate getting my family child care license. I’M LICENSED! I ordered the half dozen medium blue crabs with red potatoes, corn on the cob and a dozen Old Bay seasoned shrimp. It was delicious! I am already looking forward to going back.

Went there once! Service is good, food is good! At first kinda scared to go because of some reviews, but turn out that it’s good! So I guess everyone have different opinions and it’s all good and bad! After all, I will go back!

Went with my sister (we’re fairly young) Didn’t get greeted at the front door for 5 mins. A server was standing right there but once she saw us, she turned her back to us and didn’t turn around again. It seems like they pushed the new guy to seat us by saying «can you help them?!» …poor guy. Server was not attentive at all. Seemed to be running the bar and the floor even though there was a cluster fuck of servers walking all over the place. Fish tacos were wet and tough. Cesar salad was all old lettuce. Crab dip was the only thing that was good. 2 stars for not greeting us when we entered (mind you there was at least 5 servers staring at us, and for the food that wasn’t the best. Manager aka the security guard made me uncomfortable and seemed to be a jackass… what is he on the prowl for anyways?! Probably won’t come back.

Joe’s Crab Shack is clearly on the skids.
Let me start by saying the staff is friendly. No issues there. But the food is another matter.
It has been several months since my last visit, and chose to go there for my birthday. First, I was disappointed at the new menu. Really cut down. I ordered the lobster pot (gone is the 2-​lobster bean town pot). When my order arrived, I was appalled to see that the lobster had been split, and the claws poked with holes. I told the server I did not want it split. He advised me that they «now come that way to the restaraunt». HOLD THE PRESSES… They arrive split? That means they are not serving fresh lobster (which is why I always chose Joe’s over Red Lobster). Gone was the tomalley and roe, both of which I love. Also, as is typical with boiling split lobsters, the meat in the tail was shriveled and watery. Washed away was the savory lobster flavor. Also, no more steamed clams, just mussels. And half of those arrived unopened, which indicates frozen before cooked as well.
Joe’s must be on the ropes to now be selling frozen, pre-​processed seafood, yet still charging fresh seafood prices.
Needless to say, this will be my last visit, as I will let you ruin someone else’s birthday. And I fully expect to drive by in the near future and see closed signs on he windows.

The three stars all go to the waitress that got my order ready. I called for a pick up because we couldn’t dine in. And the young lady who took my order and got it ready was so sweet and attentive. She made sure I had all the things I needed. We ordered the joes classic steampot and the Arctic bay steampot. It was hot and ready to eat when we got home which was nice. But the crabs/​shrimp was NOT GOOD. It was tasteless in some parts, really soggy and salty in other parts. You can really tell that it wasn’t fresh and had been frozen for a long time. I will not be going back there.

I had a terrible experience here. It was a beautiful day outside a day so we decided to be seated on the deck. Our waiter was fast to get drinks at first but any refills took 5mins. Our appetizer took 25 mins to be received from the time when we ordered. It was 45mins after we sat down and our order was placed at our table. Wouldn’t come again.

We didn’t even get to eat or drink… Sat down at the bar and the bartenders didn’t even clear the area or give us menus or even acknowledge us to say they’d get to us in a minute for 15 minutes. We sat down at the same time as another couple and they at least got a couple of beers. I never come here and now I feel like I should have trusted my gut. The hostess/​hosts are nice, though.

It was the WORST food I ever had. Everything was greasy, and the food tasted horrible. The service was even worst than the food. Servers were disrespectful and the manager was dismissive. I will never return to this place.

I’ve always wanted to try a Joe’s crab shack and since we had one near our hotel we decided to give it a go.
We arrived on a Saturday night but didn’t have to wait more than 15minutes which was nice. Once we were sat we had a really nice waiter named Ryan who quickly took our drink orders and gladly answered a few questions I had about the difference in buckets.
Once we got our orders i was surprised by the amount of food in the bucket. Literally two clusters of crab legs and one lobster with one corn on the cob– it was the saddest bucket I’d ever seen. They didn’t provide any sides, no melted butter, NOTHING, just a bucket– once we cracked them I stood there staring at them, one after the other, these things had NO meat in them, not even the lobster! We picked it up and thought this has to be a joke, it was so light. The lack of food became a joke, it was comical really that you are paying so much for literally shells. Then there was a SECURITY guard walking around just eyeballing everyone… why does a Joe’s need a security guy with handcuffs giving everyone the third degree? He made us uncomfortable– mind you we were 2 adults and 2 kids, so it’s not as if we were a rowdy bunch that was going to get drunk. Needless to say, I got my Joe’s crab shack fix out the system and will likely never return to another one.

I went to the bar and for drink with my wife and grabbed the sampler app. The bar tender had no personally. He should of been a cook cause this guy personality was dry as toast. He made our mixed drink they where awful. Being a crab place you would think they would have crab in the crab dip. Nope just cheese sprinkled with old bay. Place sucks so many great places in the rio and crown I would never recommend this place to anyone.

I have never once had an issue with any staff member at this location. But the security they have hired was extremely hostile and rude to me. I work next door to it and frequently will stop by after I’m off to have a drink. The entire staff knows me and respects me as a valued customer, who has never once caused any commotion. On this night they had reached their closing time while I was still finishing my drink at the bar, meanwhile they still multiple tables seated in the restaurant, yet he on multiple occasions (at least 5) began harassing me to finish my drink and leave. I told him that my girlfriend was using the restroom and that I would finish my drink as soon as she was out. He instantly became extremely hostile and made me feel as though I was a threat to everyone in the building. Meanwhile there were 5 tables sat who received no wrath from this power hungry rent a cop. Yet after multiple staff members repeated we were fine, and that we were regular, valued customers his harassment of us continued. As a member of the service industry, I am absolutely appalled. He began his innuendo of «you all better get out now» 10 minutes before their official closing. I am not one to throw people under the bus, but it was an African American security guard, with an African accent who was on the ultimate power trip, who has made me question whether I should continue to visit this establishment that I visit on a nearly daily basis. Jabar, as the general manager of this establishment, I plead to you to find a better way to make your guests feel valued other than having an extremely hostile «security guard» continually harass the most important part of your business, your customers, when it gets close to closing time. Unless changes occur I have no choice to but to find a new place to unwind after a long shift of dealing with the problems that your staff is extremely accustomed to. I hope you able to resolve this, otherwise I cannot see myself returning to your establishment
Sincerely a once, and unless changes are made, past valued guest,
Edmund

Typical Joe’s Crab Shack. I love it when they play the slide song and dance to it. Wish people can join in it livens the atmosphere. So for awhile I’ve been ordering the same old snow crab bucket. Portions will differ per location. This one is not that generous. Anyways what made me write a review was their garlicky mussels! The garlic bread was awesome (wish I had more than one) had it with a corona and lime and it was perfect. Friday’s tend to be busy about 30 min wait. Servers were friendly and accommodating.

It was my first time at Joe’s and I could not be more pleased with the food and the service. My server was Hedvig and she was sweet and very friendly. I ordered Red fish and Lobster with crab rice. It was a bit pricy around $ 20, but was worth every penny. The fish was perfectly cooked and it was smothered with a delicious creamy lobster sauce. Loved the crab rice it was served with.

Always love the food, and this time I have to note a special waitress. This was her second time that she served us, her name is Maria Alejandra. She is a very quick, professional and knowledgable of menu items. She is also very intuitive. She noticed that I did not like the drink (half drunk), she asked if I did not like it, she will take it off the check. It was so sweet!
Best food and bset experience!

I can see how this place can attract groups of friends or colleagues seeking some grub after work. Outdoor patio seating can be fun due to its good location on the RIO Boardwalk. But if your desire is for good food and service, be prepared for disappointment. The crab dip appetizer and most steamed crab entrees were actually quite decent but the Malibu shrimp came with a mango chutney that tasted rancid. Also be prepared for a long night. Service is extremely slow. 35mins before our order was taken, another 30 waiting for appetizers and we requested our waiter 3x to check on food and drinks. With all the restaurant choices located on the boardwalk, you’re better off walking right next door to Uncle Julio’s for the same fun but better food and service.

As a frequent visitor to Rio and an avid fan of seafood, I’ve never gone to Joe’s Crab Shack until recently. Why? I’m not too sure. It has never on my list (or my friends’ lists) to eat at.
Joe’s is around the same caliber/​quality as the other big chain restaurants. This isn’t a problem if you come expecting that.
I ordered the Ragin’ Cajun steampot, and it came with pacific dungeness crab, queen crab, shrimp, and smoked sausage ($ 27.99). I really enjoyed it, and it satisfied my crab and shrimp cravings. My other family members (we came here for my mother’s birthday) ordered a special entrée of steamed shrimp, crab cake dinner, and fish and shrimp. I didn’t really get to try their dishes, but they didn’t have any complaints.
The service was alright. Our server took a bit longer to come back to us the third time around to take our order, but we weren’t in a rush.

i usually never come to Joe’s Crab Shack but i went to have dinner with a friend just to catch up because i am not eating red meat at the moment. The food was overall pretty good, granted the last time i went it was okay. Our server was Nicole and she was amazing! I’m such a foodie and i go to many restaurants & i meet, listen, and talk to many different servers and bartenders but seriously Nicole caught me by surprise because she was SO SWEET.
a random drunk lady came next to me & sat next to me being really awkward. I wasn’t bothered by it but it was unnecessary of that random woman. Although Nicole and her manager asked if i needed anything, they apologized for the woman’s actions and it just felt good to be acknowledged and that they genuinely care. which i believe is hard to find in the restaurant business being i used to work in it myself.
but yes if you go, get the crab cakes, crab anything, bacon covered shrimp, and ask for Nicole!

$ 2 TUESDAY REVIEW — Compared to other Joe’s Crab Shacks I’ve been in this location leaves a lot to be desired. If I were not tired already I probably would have driven to Arundel Mills or down to Fair Oaks. But after a long day at the office I was dying for some fried shrimp, fried crawfish, and fried pickles. I didn’t get crawfish because this location does not offer it. I think the Arundel location still does. Apparently they are about to do some renovations because there were no TVs at the bar. Again, its late, and I would have gone somewhere else if I wasn’t already too tired and hungry to do otherwise. However the bartender was friendly and personable, he called me by my name, even though I forgot his. I will wait to see how the renovations turn out before I come back again.

I’m not usually a big fan of the chain restaurants, but our visit this evening to Joe’s was a good one. We arrived late enough that we didn’t have a problem finding a parking spot and then there was no wait to have our preference of a booth. Our waitress took our drink orders immediately after we were seated and that gave us a good opportunity to review the menus.
I don’t care for crabs — way too much work. And I don’t care for lobster — they look like a giant sea roach that I should be crushing with my shoe. So while my wife chose one of the crab pots, I went with the broiled platter. I think I made out better but she really did enjoy her meal. Lots of delicious tasting food — I have to say that the higihlight was the ear of corn that was perfectly cooked. lol
Crab’s a bit expensive, but this was a special meal for us in the DC area so we made it count. I’d likely return to this Joe’s again. Well done.