Technically, Joe's is a crab shack; albeit, a very up scale crab shack. I first was at Joe's in 1978 when South Beach was not the hot ticket it is today. Wife and I try to get down to Joe's at least once per year. They do not take reservations unless you are some sort of VIP so get there before 5:00pm...put your name on the list and have a couple of drinks in the bar. Depending on the quality of the alcohol and the size of the stone crabs, you can expect to spend $150/person but it is an experience you will remember for awhile. There are items on the menu other than stone crab but you probably can do better else where if you aren't coming for the crab.

The whole place could be better decorated, but still is pretty. The food is very good and the wine list is spectacular. Wait 25 or 30 minutes worth. The service is friendly and the atmosphere is good. It is one of those classic places in Miami that is good to visit once in their life. I recommend it. Oh by the way: they are celebrating one hundred years of being open!

Joe's Stone Crab is a South Beach institution and during the "season" reservations are a must! When one can get fresh stone crab, it is a small slice of heaven.

A friend of ours who owns one of the best rated restaurants in the Sacramento region recommended Joe's, so we made a point to get there. The place is really nicely designed...Spanish motif and decor. As others have mentioned, be prepared to wait. We waited an hour and as we were called and waiting to be seated, were totally dismayed to watch a very wealthy man walk in front of me, palm the maitre de money and ask for a table for 4 now. He was seated immediately.

While waiting, we enjoyed an appetizer (conch fritters) and a drink in the bar. As we were being seated, we were approached by our cocktail waitress to pay the bill like we were running out on it. Most nicer restaurants just transfer your bar bill to your dinner tab. We gave her a credit card and then had to run that down after about 20 minutes because she couldn't be bothered to come get a signature.

I don't recommend the conch fritters. Conch is apparently tasteless in itself so it's like eating fritters with chewy rubber pieces in the.

The bread basket was abominable. It consisted of a basket of gross, cold, low-quality rolls and sliced breads. Plain old warm French bread would have been better.

I had a small chopped salad followed by their premium stone crab claws and my husband had them in Joe's Combo. The salad was the oddest, most awful combination of ingredients and soggy to boot. I ate 3 bites. The crab was really good. I got 5 "premium" claws for $41...ala cart (food is really expensive in South Beach). My husband enjoyed his combo which came with creamed spinach and coleslaw. The key lime pie was the best I've ever had.

While Joe's is celebrating it's 100th year in business, it found it odd that they seem to hold to not allowing women to work in the dining room. Our waiter, Moses, provided us great service.

Would we go back again or recommend this place to friends...not on your life!