Posted in Florida
January 18, 2016
These 11 Restaurants Serve The Best Stone Crab In Florida
Florida stone crab is pretty incredible. Some people say it’s comparable to (or better than) lobster. They’re most often served cold (with mustard sauce), but can be enjoyed hot (with butter). Additionally, stone crab is actually harvested without killing the crab, by removing only the claw and returning the creature to the ocean where it (hopefully) can regrow the lost limb. How cool is that? The stone crab season runs from October 15 to May 15, so now is the perfect time to try this Florida delicacy.
OK, so this is a given, but there's no way we could make this list without Joe's Stone Crab. Let's face it, this list might not even exist without this iconic restaurant (and the top buyer of stone crab in the industry). Joe's has been around in some form since 1913 and serving stone crab since 1921. That's lots of time to perfect the art.
If you want the freshest stone crabs with a casual atmosphere and better prices (but stone crab is never cheap), head straight to the source. Everglades City is the small fishing town where Joe's gets its stone crab supply. Triad Seafood is one of several laid-back seafood shacks in the area, and it consistently gets rave reviews from visitors.
You might spend most of your time trying to stay as far away from Northerners as possible this time of year, but let this be the exception. Kelly's Landing has all of the best New England seafood classics right here in Florida. So even if you're sick of snowbirds this time of year, Kelly's Landing will win you over with some seriously amazing seafood.
Cod & Capers has been serving some of the best seafood in the area for 25 years. Visit on Wendesdays for stone crab specials, and don't leave without a piece of Key lime pie.
A lot of people don't realize that Orlando has been developing an impressive food scene over the last several years. At Big Fin, stone crabs come in four sizes: large, jumbo, colossal and super colossal. We like the sound of that.
Frenchy's is a Clearwater institution famous for its grouper sandwiches, but if you're in the area, it's also a great place to grab some stone crab.
This supplier serves up fresh, mostly local seafood to restaurants throughout South Florida, but they also serve fresh fish and stone crab in their backyard cafe.
This laid-back raw bar was featured on The Food Network, and it's a must if you're in the neighborhood.
This swanky joint with locations in Fort Lauderdale, Naples, Miami and Boca Raton has its own fisheries, so the freshest of catches is always guaranteed. For special occasions, this place should be on your go-to list.
This casual cevicheria has proven popular with both locals and tourists. Guests love the emphasis on fresh, healthy options in a laid-back setting.
Simple, fresh and delicious. What more could you ask for?
Have you been to any of these restaurants? What’s your favorite place to get stone crab? Are there any other Florida foods you think we should feature? Please share your thoughts with us below!
