ich in history, Joe’s Stone Crabs has been opened since 1913. You can almost guarantee that customers are going to be friendly, chatty regulars that love Joe’s.

Joe’s offers typical seafood fare, boasting some of the best crab claws in Florida. They also provide other choices if seafood makes you squeamish such as liver and onions, and their secret special: fried chicken. It's crispy, mouth-watering, and reasonably priced. Apparently the key lime pie is also exceptionally good, so give it a try.

Joe’s has been around so long that they have extended their restaurant to offer memorabilia such as tees, cook books, caps, and even a silver stone crab pin. They also provide delivery of their delicious crab claws to your door. You first choose the claw size, and then choose a dinner for 2-10 people. The smallest size claws (medium) and a dinner for 4 runs $178, while filthy rich people can enjoy their Jumbo claws (dinner for 4- $408). I honestly had no idea they were this expensive, but I don’t like seafood so I can’t say if $400 dollars worth of jumbo crab claws are really that much tastier. Plus I’m not rich, so either way, I will most likely never sample the elusive Jumbo crab claws. Some people swear by the Jumbo size claws, which are pricier because they're rare- but the taste part is up to you to determine.

Beware that Joe’s is only open during Stone Crab season, which runs from Oct-May. In order to assure the species will continue, only one claw is removed so the crab can defend itself and regrow. Colossal crabs can weigh 25 ounces or more, and can exert 19000 lbs. of pressure with their claws. Makes you think twice about that slippery rock that brushed by your feet while swimming, doesn’t it?

During the off season, they are only open for lunch. The on season is when you need to worry, since the restaurant fills up every day. Joe's also refuses to take reservations, so either go early or be prepared to wait. Another option is to be open to getting take out, since the wait for a table can sometimes be unbearable to the starved stone crab lovers.