Joe's Crab Shack - Orlando

I was very pleased with the restaurant. We were seated quickly, and the food was excellent. The service was good as well. My only complaint is that some items are a bit...

Joe, Joe, Joe... what went wrong, my dear? And I truly mean dear because our bond has been so strong throughout the years. Today, it feels as though we are on the verge of a breakup. I...

After enjoying a steak dinner, we were in the mood for seafood again. The menu featured Dungeness crab, and I was tempted to order two crabs for the four of us, along with some additional dishes…

We had much higher expectations after visiting Joe's. The food was served quickly and was hot, but unfortunately, it lacked flavor. There was no seasoning at all. The coleslaw was warm and had an off taste that made me uneasy about eating it. The lobster bisque was the consistency of mud and tasted terrible! I definitely won’t be returning and wouldn’t recommend this place. The calamari was just okay—barely passable. And who mashes carrots? What was that all about?

Given the cost of this meal, it should have been worth it. Unfortunately, this time, it wasn’t. I was quite shocked by how disappointing my experience turned out to be. I ordered the Royal Crab legs with a half-pound of shrimp. Let’s start with the shrimp: it was so poorly prepared that I couldn't even eat it, and I typically enjoy shrimp. If I couldn’t eat it, that says something is very wrong. As for the crab legs, the first bite was decent, but once I got into the legs, it quickly went downhill into an unsatisfying territory I hoped to avoid. While it was somewhat enjoyable, it certainly didn’t deliver the thrilling crab experience I was looking forward to. The sauce the legs were served in had absolutely no flavor; it was a complete letdown. I left feeling more disappointed than delighted. On a positive note, the highlight of the meal was, without doubt, the world’s largest dessert—the crème de la crème, the holy grail of desserts: the S’mores Brownie with marshmallows and ice cream. No other restaurant can make this dessert like Joe’s does, and it never fails to impress. Even after a rough dining experience, this dessert is so incredible that it can uplift any mood. An absolute winner every time—thank goodness! The manager did speak to us at our table and genuinely seemed concerned about the issues we faced, but by then it was too late to save the meal. Enjoying crab should be a delightful experience, not something that leaves you wanting. I hope my next visit to town brings a much better story to share. Peace.