37_Review

CyberEater Review

Joe’s Crab Shack -- Casual, Fun Dining

By David Rottenberg

David Rottenberg is the editor of Dining San Diego Magazine, a guide to many of the city’s favorite restaurants. He is also a member of the Southern California Restaurant Writers Association and the North American Travel Journalists Association. Dining San Diego Magazine is available free at major hotel and other visitor locations as well as at most major condominiums and large corporate offices.

It’s fun! It’s casual! It’s inexpensive! It’s good! It’s Joe’s Crab Shack where they serve up tasty food and good times. There are four locations in San Diego -- Oceanside, Pacific Beach, Mission Valley and Downtown. The two locations that are most convenient to me are the one in PB, which is located close the beach’s “boardwalk”, and the stunning location behind the Convention Center, which used to be occupied by the Chart House Restaurant at the Rowing Club.

Joe’s Crab Shack is part of the Landry’s Restaurant chain, the second largest casual dining operator in the nation, with over 300 restaurants, 20 distinct brands and sales that exceed $1.1 billion. That is B IG BUSINESS. Locally, Landry’s operates The Chart House Restaurants and Peohes Restaurant in Coronado. There was a corporate decision to change the theme of the downtown location from Chart House to Joe’s.

But one wouldn’t feel the corporate power when entering a Joe’s Crab Shack. The atmosphere is friendly and colorful. There are knick-knacks for decoration, bright flashing lights, music that varied from loud to soft and even occasional entertainment by the staff. Their slogan is, “Go To Joe’s For A :Laid Back Good Time”.

The downtown location is on a pier and looks like a large tacky old crab shack, as the name says. The building even has its own dock, where small vessels can tie up while owners and passengers dig into the seafood. The bright neon lights at night are very welcoming. Memorabilia from “rowing club” days displayed on the walls give the building a deserved historical character. It is very interesting to browse the photos and articles displayed.

The interior is divided into a number of dining rooms and a large bar area. Some of the rooms are perfectly sized for a range of private parties. Joe’s policy is never to charge for the use of the room, only for the food, so entertaining a large group may be less expensive than at other venues. “This is a popular place for restaurant buy-outs,” the manager said, “and we usually have a lot of private parties in conjunction with events at the Convention Center next door.”

Happy Hour is BIG at Joe’s. Drinks prices are reduced and good food is really cheap. Lots of people from nearby offices fill the bar area to take advantage of the discounts. Favorites such as buffalo wings, calamari and potato skins come pouring out of the busy kitchen. Happy Hour starts early, at 3 pm, so everyone can get served.

Another reason that Joe’s is so popular at this location is its parking. Space in which to leave a car can be at a premium. But Joe’s has a large, free lot to accommodate its customers.

Mostly, Joe’s is about the food and I mean “crabs”. Four kinds of crab are served in one of three styles – crab cake, snow crab, Dungeness and king crab come as barbeque, garlic or steamed. The best way to order is in combination with a choice of shrimp – fried, coconut, scampi, stuffed with crab, or jumbo grilled or parmesan. If that isn’t enough to get one to jump in the car and drive down, Joe’s also served mahi mahi, lobster, chicken and top sirloin. Crawfish Etouffee is on the lunch menu if one wants to recall the Cajun delights of Louisiana.

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms, topped with cheese, did its job as an appetizer, leaving me tingling and looking for more. The Broiled Shrimp Trio did the trick, with very satisfying helpings of crab stuffed shrimp, scampi shrimp and grilled shrimp on a long skewer. Portions are large and prices are low. The most expensive entrée was under $20.

Joe’s also has a good “drinks” menu to go with meals, including some exotic ones like a fabulous mai tai.

Joe’s is a good place to bring the family. Kids can have fun there and the low prices make it very affordable.

Joe’s Crab Shack’s downtown location is a bit tricky to find. One must drive behind the Convention Center into the Embarcadero Marine Park. Once there, you can’t miss the building….err….shack. For more information and directions, call 619-233-7391. Consult your phone book for other locations.


	[37_Review]


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