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Joe's Stone Crab

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7.9Friend Score / 10

Miami Beach's most famous restaurant, serving stone crab claws since 1913 — the claws, hash browns, and key lime pie earn the hype. Caveats a friend owes you: claws run market price, the dining room takes no reservations, and it closes each summer roughly August to mid-October. Joe's Take Away next door runs year-round.

Key facts

Hours
Wed–Sun 11:30–14:30
Sun–Thu 17:00–22:00
Fri–Sat 17:00–23:00
Price$$$$
Nearest transitMiami Beach trolley (South Beach loop) and Route 120 Beach Express; valet and paid garages nearby
Time needed2-3 hours including the wait
Best time to goStone crab season (mid-October through May 1); arrive at opening or eat at the bar to shrink the wait. Restaurant closes for summer around early August, reopening in October
Last verifiedJuly 12, 2026

Friend Score

7.9/10
  • Value7.2
  • Freshness10.0
  • Crowd level5.0
  • Authenticity8.0
  • Accessibility8.5
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What locals actually do here

  • Order mediums plus the fried chicken, hash browns, and key lime pie

    Jumbo claws are dramatic but mediums taste the same per bite at a much kinder market price. The fried chicken is famously cheap and excellent — it's how regulars pad the meal without padding the bill.

    Verified Jul 2026

  • Skip the two-hour wait with Take Away or a bar seat

    Joe's Take Away next door sells the same claws and pie daily 11:30 AM to 9 PM, year-round — take them to South Pointe Park three blocks away. If you want the dining room, show up right at opening or grab a seat in the bar area.

    Verified Jul 2026

Frequently asked questions

Is Joe's Stone Crab open in summer?
The main restaurant closes for a stretch of late summer (roughly August to mid-October most years), but Joe's Take Away operates year-round with much of the menu. If your trip is in September, Take Away is your only Joe's option.
What's the difference between Joe's dining room and Joe's Take Away?
Same claws, same pie, different experience. Take Away is a counter next door where you grab claws, sides, and pie to go — no wait, no markup on atmosphere — and it's open daily year-round, 11:30 AM to 9 PM.
What should I order at Joe's besides stone crabs?
The fried chicken is a legendary cheap counterpoint to the claws, the hash browns are mandatory, and the key lime pie is arguably Miami's benchmark. Regulars order claws plus fried chicken and leave happy without going broke.
Do I need reservations at Joe's Stone Crab?
The main dining room doesn't take them — it's first-come, first-served, and peak-season waits can stretch past two hours. Locals either arrive right at opening, eat at the bar, or skip the wait entirely with Joe's Take Away next door.
How expensive is Joe's Stone Crab?
Claws are priced at market rate and a proper order of large or jumbo claws can run into the low hundreds per person with sides. There's no shame in ordering mediums, splitting an order, or doing Take Away on the beach for a fraction of the sit-down bill.
How do I eat stone crab claws?
They come pre-cracked, chilled, with Joe's mustard sauce — you pull the meat and dip. They're served cold on purpose; that's the classic preparation, not a mistake.
When is stone crab season at Joe's?
Florida stone crab season runs mid-October through May 1 — that's when claws are fresh, not frozen. The full restaurant follows the season and closes for the summer, typically around early August through mid-October, so check before you go in the off months.
What's the dress code at Joe's Stone Crab?
Business casual is the safe read — no swimwear or tank tops in the dining room, and you'll see everything from blazers to nice jeans. Take Away has no dress code at all.

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