Joe's Crab Shack - Destin

Joe's Crab Shack - Destin reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. M

   Mary

   Orlando1 review

   5.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Perfect for our large group. Restaurant seated our group of 30 in a private section and was very accommodating. Food was great.
   

   Is this helpful?

2. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Alabama2 reviews

   4.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   I was very happy with my meal! My server, Bradley, was attentive and right on point— thank you for your excellent service, especially as a Navy veteran! However, I did encounter an issue with the front check-in staff. The young lady seemed quite unhappy in her role, as she didn't smile once. Despite having a reservation, we were left standing right in front of her for 20 minutes until my husband asked another staff member for assistance. It was frustrating to feel overlooked, especially while I finished my double margarita, which was light on alcohol and a bit overpriced at $20. Unfortunately, they never called our name, and the front desk staff member continued to help others with a rather negative attitude. Despite this experience, I truly enjoyed my meal and appreciated Bradley's fantastic service!
   

   • 

   Is this helpful?

3. T

   Terri

   Philadelphia1 review

   4.0

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Service was great. Meal choices had a nice variety. Service was quick and we all loved our meals. Good price point too
   

   Is this helpful?

4. a

   amanda

   Tampa1 review

   5.0

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great service and food. The manager Tracey was super sweet and our waitress was excellent even though it was only her 4th day on the job.
   

   • 

   Is this helpful?

5. D

   Diamond

   Memphis/West TN1 review

   1.0

   Dined on March 12, 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   The food was good but the server got my daughter’s orders wrong. She also took 30 mins to give us our drinks.
   

   Is this helpful?

6. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Chicago1 review

   5.0

   Dined on March 11, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had Ellie as a waitress in Destin, Florida, and she was fantastic! We love JCS and go whenever we find one.
   

   Is this helpful?

7. J

   Janet VIP

   Tallahassee34 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on February 17, 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   Hiked prices and poor service. We have visted this spot several times in the past, however desperation has hit this chain and prices have spiked, while food quality and service is at its all time worse. The restaurant was being run by 2 people, a host and bartender, both doing the job of waiters. “Crab lovers “are no longer in buckets but in plates, my guess is serve less, charge more. It was a complete disappointment. The quality of crab meat was poor and tasted old . Plates were served with no bibs or tools to use, just an overall mess, with a final bill that was ridiculous. Don’t bother going, it was surely my last visit.
   

   Is this helpful?

8. F

   Fabienne

   Tallahassee1 review

   3.0

   Dined on December 26, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   25th december, crowded. We waited 50 minutes to have our plate and our first choice was no longer available. The food was good and the waitress so sorry for our long wait.
   

   Is this helpful?

9. M

   Meg

   Greater Boston1 review

   1.0

   Dined on December 25, 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 1

   It was Christmas Day…. BUT….. we made reservations for 5pm. Sat down right at 5. Ordered around 5:12. Waited until 6:03 for our food and when it came it was room temperature at best. They offered to re-make and put it on ‘priority’ but we all know what sending food back to the kitchen will do……! So we ended up leaving with the food and brought it home to warm up and eat. The Captains platter is obviously not good warmed up so that was a toss and the rest was ok. We laughed about it, but will never return there. We will say the waitress was amazing and she still received a large tip
   

   Is this helpful?

10. A

    Anthony

    Tallahassee1 review

    2.0

    Dined on October 16, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2

    I was three years old the first time I ate at this Joe’s Crab Shack in 1997. Have probably eaten here more than a dozen times on our many Destin vacations over the years. It used to be a staple — long wait to get in because it was packed with people, fun atmosphere, good food, good times…the whole deal you expect at a good restaurant. I remember when the servers and wait staff would all dance throughout the restaurant to songs like the ‘Macarena’ or ‘YMCA’ at least a couple times each visit. Anyway, I’m 30 now and brought my little family here. It’s the first time I’ve eaten here in several years and expected what I so fondly remembered. Boy was I disappointed. To make a long story short, we had an awesome but severely overworked server who was on her own with probably a dozen tables. The bald-headed manager was a jerk who tried to argue with me over chicken tenders (and did very little help his staff the hour and a half we were there). It took too long to get our food. No party atmosphere at all…might as well had been eating at a Captain D’s. It was just an overall poor experience and one that has ended a nearly 30-year vacation tradition for my family. I could write quite a bit more, but I only have so much space here.
    

    Is this helpful?