Joe's Stone Crab

You know Joe's. The history. The gloriously sweet stone crabs. And, in season, the notoriously long wait for a table. But often overlooked is the consistently good food, the truly professional service, the free parking, the surprising value (except the crabs, which are an extravagance wherever you find them), and the dining room's stately ambiance. Visit and you'll find tuxedoed waiters whirling through the dining rooms with oval trays held high above their heads while the buzz of diners subtly tinges the air like the intangible gathering of ions before a thunderstorm. Yet you'd be hard-pressed to find such a large space that's as cozy as this one. Stone crabs are, of course, the mainstay of Joe's menu, and somehow they seem to taste a little fresher and sweeter here. The rest of the offerings, though, don't disappoint. And nearly everybody orders Joe's key lime pie, renowned as the best in town, for dessert. If you show up on a Saturday evening, be prepared to cool your heels for hours. If you want to sit quickly, visit on a weekday — except Monday, when Joe's is closed. Or keep it simple and grab your claws at Joe's Take Away next door.