With its first grand opening in Houston, Texas in 1991, Joe’s Crab Shack quickly moved along the lower south of the United States gaining in popularity as new stores opened. With a menu aimed at seafood dining and a casual, almost comic atmosphere, Joe’s Crab Shack’s reputation for family fun dining makes it a popular choice among the younger set.
First considered when two guys, as stated in their own site’s history link, went on a seafood eating spree along the Gulf Coast. From this, they set out to gather as many of the delights they themselves had savored and offer them under one roof. This is when Joe’s Crab Shack was born, as stated on their admittedly “quirky” site.
The more corporate truth is that Joe’s was once owned by Landry’s Restaurants Inc. and was sold to J.H. Whitney and Co. in 1996. The Joe’s Crab Shack chain of beach themed restaurants now boasts 120 restaurants in 28 states.
With bright colors and cartoon styled signature characters, Joe’s Crab Shack often stands out among the crowds of other more discreet and traditional chains of restaurants. Joe’s clearly competes with its stagey looks but its menu clearly makes for proper dining as well.
Offering signature dishes such as its buckets of crab and assorted shelled fish, Joe’s Crab Shack’s Steam Pots are one of their most ordered menu items. Joe’s employees also lend a hand by designing recipes themselves which Joe’s Crab Shack then offers on their menus at each chain. One example of a popular menu item created by a Joe’s employee would be their appetizer dish, “great balls of fire.” A mix of jalapeno, crab and shrimp, these treats are sure to please any rising appetite.
Other popular menu items include platters broiled, grilled and fried, steaks and chicken and pastas with shrimp and crab. Grilled items include mahi-mahi and Salmon for a lower fat choice. Shrimp and lots of it, as touted on their menu, offer multiple shrimp dishes including shrimp Alfredo, coconut shrimp, popcorn shrimp and parmesan shrimp just to name a few.
Joe’s also offers burgers made from both beef and fish items such as shrimp and mahi-mahi. More traditional sandwiches include a chicken club sandwich as well as a shrimp Po’boy. Side items represent the many flavors offered in most seafood dining restaurants but Joe’s offers theirs with their signature flare. Items such as onion rings, French fries, cheesy new potatoes and coleslaw and other usual favorites are all featured on Joe’s menu along with a variety of drinks.
Coupons for Joe’s Crab Shack may be found online by entering into Joe’s Crab Shack “Joe Email”. Offers and discount notifications can be sent directly to you through email. Coupons with savings of five dollars or more depending upon coupon and item offered can also be found at online coupon websites. Joe’s Bonus Bucks promotion on their gift cards, offering 5 dollars for every 25 spent, is good from January 1’St through February 13’Th, 2010.
