Each year, stone crab fans wait patiently for Oct. 15 to roll around, marking the start of stone crab season. Floridians would say that stone crab claws are akin to clam chowder in New England. You can't wait to dig into these tasty crustaceans—harvested offshore from Florida’s Panhandle to Key West.
Undoubtedly, we owe a debt of gratitude to Joseph “Joe” Weiss,—the "Joe" in Joe's Stone Crab—his wife Jennie and a wicked asthmatic condition that led him to end up in Miami Beach—where luckily his asthma got better—for starting Joe’s Restaurant in 1918 and tossing a stone crab into a pot of boiling water in the 1920s. After that, as they say, is history.
The iconic South Beach restaurant, Joe’s Stone Crab, ranks as the second highest-grossing restaurant in the country, and will forever remain the most coveted spot to delight in stone crabs. Make your reservations early if you want to snag a seat. If not, here are a few other Miami and Fort Lauderdale area restaurants clawing their way into the hearts of seafood lovers.
Miami
Myles Chefetz’s Prime Fish is famed for its expansive raw bar and over-the-top brunch buffet. On the menu is also one of the finest selections of colossal stone crabs, available from October through May 15.
The popular Lobster Bar Sea Grille chain has more than their famous lobsters—the stone crabs are actually one of the most popular items on the menu. Part of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, a family-owned business by founder and CEO I. Pano Karatassos, the group has their own seafood company. All fish served stays true to its from sea-to-table 48-hour rule. Two locations: Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale serve South Florida.
In the Miami River district, you'll find Garcia's Seafood Grille and Fish Market, a hangout for the fishermen and dockworkers that work around the Riverside neighborhood. It's a family-owned and run business with a thriving fishing operation that promises everything is fresh from their boats to your plate. During the season, stone crabs are in high demand. So if you are inclined for a casual lunch or dinner and don't mind the earthy smells, wooden tables, no-fuss dining experience, this is the place to go.
Fort Lauderdale
Celebrity-chef Geoffrey Zakarian’s Point Royal, in the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, is a modern take on a seaside restaurant. The well-appointed eatery of American oak, large palms and stone bar, is known for its lavish raw bar, which offers the freshest stone crabs while in season.
Fort Lauderdale's latest oceanfront eatery, Terra Mare features locally sourced land and sea dining in a casually sophisticated environment. Helmed by Swedish executive chef Johan Svensson, stop here to savor stone crabs Scandinavian-style—known for its simplicity—paired with a refreshing signature libation made with cold-pressed juices and spirits.
How decadent is a surf 'n' turf platter? Count the ways at Stephen Starr’s boutique steakhouse in Fort Lauderdale, Steak 954. It offers daily stone crab specials paired with its 27-ounce steak will have you saying "yum" for days.
Just north of Aventura Mall, you'll find Billy's Stone Crab, a waterfront restaurant known for its "all-you-can-eat" menu of medium, large, jumbo and colossal stone crabs and Alaskan king crab legs. Plus, it offers a variety of fresh fish, such as mahi-mahi, grouper, snapper, Norwegian Salmon, Tuna, to Apalachicola oysters, clams, alligator bits, frog legs, steak, chicken and pasta entrees.