What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Joanie's Blue Crab Cafe
Review
About
If you love to eat well, drink much,and enjoy the simple side of life with a hearty helping of down home music and are not in a rush to go ANYWHERE!
Features
CUISINES
American, Bar, Seafood
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner
PRICE
$$ - $$$
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Highchairs Available
Live Music
Outdoor Seating
Parking Available
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Takeout
Location
Parking Available
Does this restaurant have live music
Save this restaurant
Hours
Open until 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Contribute
4.2
596 reviews
Excellent
306
Very good
180
Average
54
Poor
25
Terrible
32
Henry W
Kent City117 contributions
Feb 2025 • couples
We have been here a few times over the years and the food keeps us coming back. I had the grouper basket and she had the gator salad. Gator was absolutely perfect. Probably the best I have tried and I have tried a lot. Grouper was also excellent.
This is an eclectic old Florida restaurant in old world Florida.
Waitresses work very hard and are engaging. The food is a bit pricey like everywhere in the area, but is excellent. Worth a stop if you are in the area!
Written February 9, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karl T
Sun City186 contributions
Jan 2024 • couples
Great place to just hang out and look around at all the things that patrons have left to be hung up. The servers were really friendly and the food was delicious, especially the Swamp Dog and the Crab cake. Definite great stop if you're in the area.
Written February 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Coleen H
Cape Coral98 contributions
Jan 2024 • couples
It doesn't look like much from the outside but the food makes this a must stop! The shrimp basket was so tender with huge shrimp, fries and coleslaw. The crab cake sandwich was awesome! We shared hushpuppies that were remarkable. This will be on ever trip now that we pass it!
Written January 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rianne615
Miami15 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
If the waitress is not standing there when you walk in, you have to just wait around as there is no sign to instruct you. Do I take a seat? Do I wait to be seated? Do I order at the counter? After you are told to get your drink of choice from the cooler and take a seat the very kind waitress will as you what you would like. There are no explanations on the menu. What is included in the swamp basket? By the way it is frog, catfish, and gator. I admit I stuck to the fried shrimp basket. Ordered hush puppies as well. It cost $55 for two baskets one order of hush puppies and two bottles of water. Shrimp basket was 6 shrimp some barley coated and others overly coated with a tasteless batter. As you can imagine overly batter shrimp gives you undercooked batter. Under coated shrimp just seems wrong. No seasoning in this batter to be found. The single hush puppy that came with the shrimp was cold. The order of hush puppies came after the food and were hot just out of the oil and burnt looking. Inside was more raw. Fries in basket seems like seasoned frozen regular fries. No AC in building would make summer visit unbearable. Staff was impeccable and sweet as could be, therefore I didn’t complain and still tipped.
Written February 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shelby Sprinzen
30 contributions
Mar 2023 • family
Walking in, you can tell this is something of Guy Fieri’s dreams. The atmosphere is very Florida, complete with stuffed birds hanging from the rafters. You can help yourself to a drink from the drink cooler while you wait for your waitress. All of the food was delicious! I love everything about this restaurant, if you’re down to earth you will feel right at home.
Written March 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tartare57
Punta Gorda27 contributions
Jun 2021 • none
Rustic roadside older structure, offering crab, seafood, platters, cold beer. Friendly chalk sign inviting customers in, grab a cold beverage from the cooler, sit anywhere.
Very slow service from a waitress who spent most of her time sitting with friends/relatives, even though the place was nearly empty. Left 2 menus, and never returned. They were out of most crab selections.Prices are very high here. No indication if sides come with meals, cheapest item was a hot dog for $11.99
All beers from cooler are $5.00 ea.
Sitting in the screened porch area, noticed that the ceiling/roof was propped up with a 2x4 next to my elbow. Paid for our drinks, and turned in our menus to cashier. Waitress was still sitting with friends, ignoring us. We left without ordering food. Dilapidated building, poor service, exorbitant prices, but the only place for miles, if driving north on rt 41. Would not recommend.
Written June 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robin S
49 contributions
Mar 2023 • none
Went for lunch after an airboat ride. At first pass, we weren't going to stop but convinced the hubby after reading the reviews. We all loved it! Just walk in, grab a menu and drink from the cooler and the waitress will come by to take your order. The waitress alone was worth the stop. She was just awesome, you have to meet her to get it. The food is a bit pricey but worth it. Two in our group got the swamp basket and they loved it. The homemade key lime pie was also really good! Nothing fancy here but definitely a fun stop!
Written March 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
njcg
Sarasota78 contributions
Nov 2021 • none
I watched the lady server with the short hair do a few things that really troubled me. She was cutting up a key lime pie for the table of 7 behind me when she dropped a piece of pie on the food prep counter, picked it up with her fingers, put it back on the plate and ate a bit that fell off with her hands. She then wiped her hands on her back side continuously after that, no matter where she was or what she was doing. She'd pick up dirty dishes, her hands on her butt, serve food, wipe her hands on her butt, pick up garbage, wipe her butt. Never once did I see her wash her hands. Disgraceful behaviour for a server.
Written November 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annette H
Slidell6 contributions
Nov 2021 • couples
This was a fun stop as we drove through the Everglades but I have to say that the food was not great, especially considering the cost. I ordered she crab soup which turned out to be Campbell’s vegetable soup with some extras thrown in. The two large shrimp and half small crab that were in the soup were good, but didn’t make it worth $14. I also had fried green tomatoes that were okay at best. Nothing special. My husband ordered a fried shrimp basket that was also okay. Total bill, $65 for lunch for two. The place is cute and the staff very friendly. One last tip, if you do stop here, don’t opt for sitting on the unscreened back porch. We were nearly carried away by mosquitoes. It’s the Everglades! What were we thinking?
Written November 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Youssef W
Weston83 contributions
Jun 2021 • none
US 41 has tons of spots to spend the day. And this place no difference. It offers great food and great seating. The prices are a bit expensive, but the rest is great so it is definitely worth every stop, every time. The crabs we got were very small so it was hard to get all meats, but everything else we ordered was great. And the servers were friendly and aware of what that place can offer.
Written August 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eugene1225
Warrenville26 contributions
Nov 2024 • couples
Over the past twenty plus years we have driven past Joanie’s and wanted to stop. Too often it has been closed for various reasons. Yesterday it was open and not too busy so we stopped for lunch. We grabbed menus and sat down as the sign instructed. The sign promised that they would be right with us. The sign lied. We sat, totally ignored as groups that came in after us were waited on and served. A waitress was at the table next to us several times and could have simply turned her head and said “I’ll be right with you” but apparently that is too much to expect. The food may be good but the service is truly miserable.
My only regret is that TA won’t allow negative stars.
Written November 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brenda D
Carnation126 contributions
Jan 2024 • family
We were visiting Everglades National Park for the first time, so we didn’t know where to go for a good lunch. We drove by Joanie’s Blue Crab Cafe and decided to stop. What a hidden gem! The cafe has so much character. The staff were friendly and full of fun local stories. Best of all, the seafood was fresh and delicious! We had the crab cakes and blackened grouper soft tacos with grilled corn on the cob. No wonder it’s rated so highly on Trip Advisor!
Written January 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
islandlovingtwosome
Lake Forest125 contributions
Apr 2023 • none
Joanie wasn't there, but Lisa was. What a kick...she was great. Efficient, knowledgeable, friendly, funny and helpful. My husband and I split a crab cake on a bun and a fried blue crab on a bun. We both agree the fried blue crab was better. We split a slice of key lime pie which was also good, but not great. You should know that this restaurant comes highly rated by the locals for a good reason. The food is tastey, and if you're lucky, Lisa will be your server. She even told us where to go to see all the gators we could hope to see...H. P. Williams Roadside Park.
Written May 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DoxieGal58
Miami217 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
Joanie's has the the atmosphere of an old biker bar. Lots of old photos on the wall.
When you walk in the hostess tells you to take a menu and grab drinks from the cooler in the back, then take a seat. She says the waitress will be with you, and adds that she's not the waitress. Fish sandwiches and fries were in the $16 - $18 range, served in paper baskets - overpriced for being on the edge of the Everglades. One of our fish filets was undercooked and had to be sent back but otherwise was flavorful. Interesting atmosphere; not for kids due to decor in the restrooms. Experience it once, but there are much better options in Everglades City. Crabs not available on the day we visited.
Written January 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mlpbjm
Mukilteo1108 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
really 3.5 rating. recommended by staff at Big Cypress National Preserve. Really the only dining spot nearby. Florida seafood specialists. Kitschy, swamp style décor and a waitress full of p*** and vinegar. Quick with a dirty(ish) joke. My wife went with the crab cake sandwich which she enjoyed but also lamented the lack of sweetness that comes with our Dungeness crab at home. I chose the days special, a chili lime sautéed catfish filet that I chose to do as a sandwich. The fish was very fresh and cooked perfectly. A little light on the chili lime flavor but overall, with the added sautéed onions and house sauce, delicious. The roll it was served on was not quite up to the task of holding the sandwich together but not a big deal. Both meals came with crinkle fries straight from the freezer that were undercooked. Finished with a slice of Key Lime Pie which had a delicious light filling and flaky crust. Surprisingly-to me anyway-it was topped with a dollop of Cool Whip. This meal was good but, being out in the sticks, you’ll pay a premium price-$60.00.
Written March 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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