Beginning Tuesday, October 15 through Thursday, May 1, the eagerly anticipated annual harvest of stone crab claws causes a frenzy in South Florida. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), stone crabs can only be legally harvested between these dates, which is why Miami residents and visitors go into overdrive to score the meatiest claws across the city.
The reason why they're so sought out is because there are dozens of rules and regulations regarding harvesting them. Unlike most other crustaceans, it's illegal to harvest the body of a stone crab. Therefore, fishermen can only collect the claws and must return the rest of the crab to the ocean, which makes catching stone crabs extremely labor-intensive.
Plus, they're simply delicious (especially when served perfectly chilled and dipped into a special mustard sauce).
Without further ado, New Times has carefully selected the 12 best restaurants, seafood markets, and food trucks in Miami that serve only the most fresh, expertly chilled, and perfectly meaty stone crab claws. Now, this is a *claws* for celebration.
Bayshore Club
3391 Pan American Dr., Coconut Grove305-921-0571
bayshoreclubmiami.comThis lively seafood restaurant overlooking the water in the heart of one of Miami's oldest neighborhoods, Coconut Grove, has become a go-to spot for stone crabs. Today, the space is where you can find chilled stone crab claws served on ice with a classic mustard sauce all season long. Try them via the "Crab & Shrimp Cocktail Cooler," a menu option that gets you jumbo Florida stone crab claws alongside shrimp cocktail for an additional $15 apiece. Market price.
Blue Runner Fresh Seafood Market
10911 Biscayne Blvd., Miami3557 NE Second Ave., Miami
786-499-9334
instagram.com/bluerunnerseafoodThis seafood truck and delivery service secretly whip out some of the best stone crabs in Miami — and the only ones to do so on wheels. The food truck runs from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, where it dishes out incredibly fresh stone crab claws. The seafood trucks can be found in Edgewater/North Miami and in the Miami Design District/Midtown. Also available for delivery at 786-431-6001. Prices will be updated.
Captain Jim's Seafood Market & Restaurant
12950 W. Dixie Hwy., North Miami305-892-2812David Garcia (La Camaronera Seafood Joint) now owns this iconic North Miami seafood spot, which dates back to the 1990s. This heir to Miami seafood royalty kept the menu mostly unchanged, allowing Captain Jim's to do what it does best: serve the freshest fish possible. Favorites include stone crab claws (in season) and a beautiful take on conch salad with meaty hunks of the mollusk tossed in a spicy tomato marinade and cubed red and green peppers.
Estiatorio Milos
730 First St., Miami Beach305-604-6800
estiatoriomilos.comRenowned for its seafood selection, Estiatorio Milos serves fresh colossal stone crab claws, exclusively sourced from the Bahamas, where the season runs a full month longer than in the Florida Keys. These crabs are prized for their succulent flavor, impressive size, and blemish-free appearance. They are served simply with a housemade mustard sauce to enhance their natural sweetness. Market price.
Fresh Stone Crabs
Delivery only305-989-1969
freshstonecrabs.comWhen stone crabs are in season, one of Miami's best sources will deliver them right to your home. When Fresh Stone Crabs launched, its mission was to fill the void by offering some of the freshest stone crabs all season. Owner Shelly Abramowitz decided to create a boutique company, buying directly from the fisherman and offering a fresh, never-frozen product. Visit the company's Instagram at instagram.com/freshstonecrabs. Free delivery is available to the Miami and Broward County area, and they ship overnight to all 50 states. Priced $39-$89 per pound.
Garcia's Seafood Grille & Fish Market
398 NW North River Dr., Miami305-375-0765
garciasmiami.comThis grill and seafood market has been serving up a winning combination of fresh fish dishes and family hospitality for nearly 60 years. In-the-know Miamians flock to this indoor/outdoor restaurant overlooking the Miami River that is overseen these days by brothers Luis Garcia and Esteban Garcia Jr., whose parents founded the local institution in 1966, for the freshest stone crabs that are available to purchase on the menu or at the fish market next door. Visit the restaurant and market's Instagram at instagram.com/garciasseafood.
George Stone Crab
Delivery only888-705-3923
georgestonecrab.comThis time of year, the George Stone Crab team of more than 80 fishermen heads out to catch stone crab. Caught in the Florida Keys, the stone crabs are cooked in the company's production facility the same day, boiled for up to eight minutes before they're dipped in ice water, packaged, and shipped fresh from Miami. When they arrive at your door, all you have to do is crack 'em and dip 'em in the housemade mustard sauce. Claws are offered in all four sizes: medium, large, jumbo, and colossal. Priced $40-$105 per pound.
Golden Rule Seafood
17505 S. Dixie Hwy., Miami305-235-0661
goldenruleseafood.comIf you can't cast a line off your 40-foot catamaran, Golden Rule Seafood is the next best thing. This family-owned purveyor has been around since 1943, serving up fresh fish, stone crab, lobster, oysters, live blue crabs, shrimp, and all other forms of the ocean's bounty. So, if you're in Palmetto Bay and craving a little something from the sea, you know where to go. If you prefer pre-cooked eats, they'll even steam your seafood on site for you. And if you're too tempted to wait till you get home, there are tables where you can sit and crack, squeeze, and drool your way through a set of stone crab claws.
Holy Crab Stone Crab Delivery offers next-day local delivery within the Coral Gables area.
Holy Crab photo
Holy Crab Delivery
1831 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables786-882-9963
holycrabdelivery.comLooking for fresh stone crab claw delivery with a beautiful presentation? Try Holy Crab. If you live in Miami (or the surrounding area), you can place your order for next-day delivery — or pick up in person. Holy Crab's fresh (never frozen) claws can be delivered within ten miles of the company's Coral Gables location, and local orders are prepared just before pickup or delivery, packed into specially designed fish boxes to ensure everything stays chilled. The online marketplace offers every size, from medium to colossal. The best part: There's no need to crack a sweat over cracking your claws. Do it yourself with the included mallet, or have them do it for you with the "cracked" option. Market price.
Joe's Stone Crab
11 Washington Ave., Miami Beach305-673-4611
joesstonecrab.comThe word iconic gets tossed around a lot, but Joe's has earned the title. Now entering its 111th year, Joe's Stone Crab opened in 1913 as a small counter restaurant serving fish sandwiches and fries. Joe's is still owned and operated by the descendants of the original owner, Joe Weiss, and has served celebrities, presidents, and Miamians for more than a century. Joe's sources its crabs directly from its team of fishermen, ensuring your claws are high quality. Market price.
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink
130 NE 40th St., Miami305-676-0894
michaelsgenuine.comFor the past decade, chef Michael Schwartz has worked directly with local fisherman Captain J. Bruns to provide the best stone crabs in town. Captain Bruns catches and delivers stone crabs within the same day. He boils the shellfish directly on the dock after they're caught and brings them straight to Michael's Genuine the same day, which means his stone crabs are fresh and never frozen. During the season, Michael's Genuine receives about 100 pounds of stone crabs a week, which are served on ice with a housemade mustard sauce and a green sambal sauce for a kick. Market price.
Stiltsville Fish Bar
1787 Purdy Ave., Miami Beach786-655-4365
stiltsvillefishbar.comThis Sunset Harbour restaurant is everything a quality neighborhood seafood restaurant should be: a touch of Old Florida with a Key West-inspired atmosphere. This stone crab season, Stiltsville will be offering some of the sweetest, meatiest claws in South Florida. Served on a bed of ice, the claws are paired perfectly with Stiltsville's signature Champagne mustard sauce. Available by the claw or accompanied by a number of other delicious seafood options in the "Tacklebox," Stiltsville is the go-to destination for stone crab. Stop by on Thursdays during Happy Hour, from 3 to 7 p.m. for stone crab specials.
