Joe's Crab Shack

Posted "run don't walk" The food was not eatable. Visited Kemah boardwalk w/granddaughter,her hubby,2 children and grown grandson and my hubby on 11-15-2010. Even though it was an overcast day, damp and a little cool, we were having lots of fun with the 2 gr grands. (age 4 & birthday boy turning 8) About 1:30ish we broke for lunch, birthday boy choosing JOE'S CRAB SHACK. As we were being escorted to our table I noticed 2 tables with plates of uneaten food????was it not good or? The food was terrible, not one of us was able to eat our orders. The boya did not even eat the fries on their plates. My shrimp was so overfried and dry! it must have been sitting under the heat lamp or was it something a customer refused and was sent back..terrible Our ticket came to over 78.00 with tip to be added. DO NOT WASTE your money here, there must be better places for families to eat. The table across from us also had a birthday girl with grandparents attending. THEY DID NOT EAT THEIR FOOD either. We chatted and both tables were so disappointed AND, the children did not even get a dessert as most restaurants do. . We we returned to the rides, we commented to everyone we met about the terrible food, and guess what! some had experienced the same on different occasions. How do they stay open. more

Posted "run don't walk" The food was not eatable. Visited Kemah boardwalk w/granddaughter,her hubby,2 children and grown grandson and my hubby on 11-15-2010. Even though it was an overcast day, damp and a little cool, we were having lots of fun with the 2 gr grands. (age 4 & birthday boy turning 8) About 1:30ish we broke for lunch, birthday boy choosing JOE'S CRAB SHACK. As we were being escorted to our table I noticed 2 tables with plates of uneaten food????was it not good or? The food was terrible, not one of us was able to eat our orders. The boya did not even eat the fries on their plates. My shrimp was so overfried and dry! it must have been sitting under the heat lamp or was it something a customer refused and was sent back..terrible Our ticket came to over 78.00 with tip to be added. DO NOT WASTE your money here, there must be better places for families to eat. The table across from us also had a birthday girl with grandparents attending. THEY DID NOT EAT THEIR FOOD either. We chatted and both tables were so disappointed AND, the children did not even get a dessert as most restaurants do. . We we returned to the rides, we commented to everyone we met about the terrible food, and guess what! some had experienced the same on different occasions. How do they stay open. more

Recently went to Joe's on the Kemah Boardwalk. The weather was fantastic.......the service was horrible. Nicole might be the meanest waitress I have ever come across. Didn't have time to answer our menu questions. The menu is new and we just had a few things we didn't understand. This young woman has no manners or she woke up on the wrong side of the bed, but.....I don't know. We actually thought about leaving. The place really wasn't that busy and I guess she just didn't want to be there. My friend asked a question and Nicole answered, .... and my friend responded, ...so you get this side with that dish and Nicole responded back in an irritated voice...." ...that is what I just told you....". How Rude!!! We practically had to beg for refills on the soda's and we didn't dare ask about dessert. I like Joe's , but if you get Nicole...LEAVE!! The food was ok and the view was outstanding....., but the waitress ruined our day. more

Recently went to Joe's on the Kemah Boardwalk. The weather was fantastic.......the service was horrible. Nicole might be the meanest waitress I have ever come across. Didn't have time to answer our menu questions. The menu is new and we just had a few things we didn't understand. This young woman has no manners or she woke up on the wrong side of the bed, but.....I don't know. We actually thought about leaving. The place really wasn't that busy and I guess she just didn't want to be there. My friend asked a question and Nicole answered, .... and my friend responded, ...so you get this side with that dish and Nicole responded back in an irritated voice...." ...that is what I just told you....". How Rude!!! We practically had to beg for refills on the soda's and we didn't dare ask about dessert. I like Joe's , but if you get Nicole...LEAVE!! The food was ok and the view was outstanding....., but the waitress ruined our day. more

I have been going to this Joe's Crab Shack on the Kemah Boardwalk for years and this was probably the worst experience I have had there. Ok, they changed the menu. I am not happy about that, but it is cheap for seafood, so ...you get what you pay for. But I have never had service this bad. Our waiter, "Mark", might be the worst on the planet. We were seated and waited almost 10 minutes before he made contact with our table. A person who seemed to be a manager made eye contact with us several times, but never made it to our table. Finally, our waiter arrived. He was rude and kind of "dirty". There was a bad odor and I am pretty sure that it was him....sour smell. I don't think he took a bath before work. He rushed us to order our drinks and food and then he disappeared. We asked a few questions about the menu and he acted like he was doing us a favor to answer our questions. When he left our table, the odor left as well. We didn't get our 4 soft drinks for another 30 minutes. I saw that he was busy ....talking to other servers. I think we were the only table he had because I watched him walk around and he seemed to look busy, but all he really seemed to do was ....nothing. The food was ok. It's Joe's....you get what you pay for. The view was still nice. At the end of the meal, I paid the bill and tipped him what I thought he should get. You don't reward poor service. We were half way down the stairs when our waiter caught me outside and gave me my $5 tip back and he said, "....you need this more than I do.." I really can't believe that the Landry's corporation would have waiters like this. more

I have been going to this Joe's Crab Shack on the Kemah Boardwalk for years and this was probably the worst experience I have had there. Ok, they changed the menu. I am not happy about that, but it is cheap for seafood, so ...you get what you pay for. But I have never had service this bad. Our waiter, "Mark", might be the worst on the planet. We were seated and waited almost 10 minutes before he made contact with our table. A person who seemed to be a manager made eye contact with us several times, but never made it to our table. Finally, our waiter arrived. He was rude and kind of "dirty". There was a bad odor and I am pretty sure that it was him....sour smell. I don't think he took a bath before work. He rushed us to order our drinks and food and then he disappeared. We asked a few questions about the menu and he acted like he was doing us a favor to answer our questions. When he left our table, the odor left as well. We didn't get our 4 soft drinks for another 30 minutes. I saw that he was busy ....talking to other servers. I think we were the only table he had because I watched him walk around and he seemed to look busy, but all he really seemed to do was ....nothing. The food was ok. It's Joe's....you get what you pay for. The view was still nice. At the end of the meal, I paid the bill and tipped him what I thought he should get. You don't reward poor service. We were half way down the stairs when our waiter caught me outside and gave me my $5 tip back and he said, "....you need this more than I do.." I really can't believe that the Landry's corporation would have waiters like this. more

I HAVE VISITED MORE THAN 1 JOE'S CRABSHACK AND KEMAH WAS THE WORSE LOCATION EVER! YES I DO AGREE THE MENU HAS CHANGED AND THE PORTIONS OF THE FOOD WAS SO SMALL AT THIS LOCATION,WATERED DOWN DRINKS,WAITER DID NOT CHECK ON US TO SEE IF YOU WE NEEDED ANYTHING OR REFILLS....THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST THAT TERRIBLE OFFBEAT DANCING/ENTERTAINMENT EVERY 15 MINUTES OR SO HAS TO GO!SO TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT YOU GUYS ARE MAKING KEMAH LOOK BAD PLEASE GET IT TOGETHER AND GET BETTER STAFF AND ENTERTAINMENT!....THANKS more

I HAVE VISITED MORE THAN 1 JOE'S CRABSHACK AND KEMAH WAS THE WORSE LOCATION EVER! YES I DO AGREE THE MENU HAS CHANGED AND THE PORTIONS OF THE FOOD WAS SO SMALL AT THIS LOCATION,WATERED DOWN DRINKS,WAITER DID NOT CHECK ON US TO SEE IF YOU WE NEEDED ANYTHING OR REFILLS....THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST THAT TERRIBLE OFFBEAT DANCING/ENTERTAINMENT EVERY 15 MINUTES OR SO HAS TO GO!SO TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT YOU GUYS ARE MAKING KEMAH LOOK BAD PLEASE GET IT TOGETHER AND GET BETTER STAFF AND ENTERTAINMENT!....THANKS more

Menu has changed. What kind of seafood restaurant in Texas doesn't offer fried catfish???? Furthermore, why on earth take it off the menu when it was there to begin with? Don't order the shrimp po-boy - they give you a handful of really small tough shrimp that have not been cleaned. The appetizer crab cake (1) which was almost $10 was cold and fishy. All food was inedible. Wait was an hour and a half even with call ahead seating. Save your money and eat at burger king. Pros: Sits over the bay. Call ahead seating. Cons: Food is INEDIBLE. more

Menu has changed. What kind of seafood restaurant in Texas doesn't offer fried catfish???? Furthermore, why on earth take it off the menu when it was there to begin with? Don't order the shrimp po-boy - they give you a handful of really small tough shrimp that have not been cleaned. The appetizer crab cake (1) which was almost $10 was cold and fishy. All food was inedible. Wait was an hour and a half even with call ahead seating. Save your money and eat at burger king. Pros: Sits over the bay. Call ahead seating. Cons: Food is INEDIBLE. more

We visited Joes Crab Shack on 08/31/2009. The menu did not offer anything as to what other Joes Crab Shacks offer(major disappointment). I must say the service was average. Little effort was made to tend to our needs except what our waitress did. The majority of the staff sat around talking to each other not noticing that we were trying to grab the attention of anyone who would help us. The food was below average quality. We ordered an appitizer of calamari, which was as thick as horse shoes and undercooked. The fried fish and shrimp dinner needs major improvement. The fish tasted old and smelled bad. Needless to say we will not be attending Joes in Kemah any more. Please take this review as contructive criticism. Cons: Poor quality food more

We visited Joes Crab Shack on 08/31/2009. The menu did not offer anything as to what other Joes Crab Shacks offer(major disappointment). I must say the service was average. Little effort was made to tend to our needs except what our waitress did. The majority of the staff sat around talking to each other not noticing that we were trying to grab the attention of anyone who would help us. The food was below average quality. We ordered an appitizer of calamari, which was as thick as horse shoes and undercooked. The fried fish and shrimp dinner needs major improvement. The fish tasted old and smelled bad. Needless to say we will not be attending Joes in Kemah any more. Please take this review as contructive criticism. Cons: Poor quality food more

I took my family out to Joe's @ Kemah on August 16. 2009 and paid $7.00 parking, I presented a coupon and asked my waiter if they would honor a coupon for a classic steampot, from the Joe's Crabshack website, he said yes. So we ordered a Appetizer crab dip and 4 drinks ,1 steampot, 1 shrimp dinner, 1popcorn shrimp dinner, 1 chickenfried steak dinner; we recieved our drinks and appetizer and after a short time our dinners, however when our dinners came out the manager came and informed me that they would not honor the steampot coupon $24.99 and was very rude and inconsiderate and told me and my family to enjoy our evening. As a former Restuarant manager and bussinessman II would have comped the steampot and apologized and hoped my customers would have pleasant dining experience. Instead I and my family left and instead of losing $24.99 Joe's had to throwout about $80.00 worth of food, lost me and my family as customers permanantly as we will never go back, and to be sure I will tell everyone I come into contact with about my terrible dining experience, and will never again go to kemah boardwalk or any of Tillman Fertita's restuarants again!. I know Tilman personally and will tell him about this experience and to shove his bussiness interests where the sun doesn't shine. Pros: None, To bad there's catergory worse than con's!. Cons: Poor customer service, Rude management, poor judgement. more

I took my family out to Joe's @ Kemah on August 16. 2009 and paid $7.00 parking, I presented a coupon and asked my waiter if they would honor a coupon for a classic steampot, from the Joe's Crabshack website, he said yes. So we ordered a Appetizer crab dip and 4 drinks ,1 steampot, 1 shrimp dinner, 1popcorn shrimp dinner, 1 chickenfried steak dinner; we recieved our drinks and appetizer and after a short time our dinners, however when our dinners came out the manager came and informed me that they would not honor the steampot coupon $24.99 and was very rude and inconsiderate and told me and my family to enjoy our evening. As a former Restuarant manager and bussinessman II would have comped the steampot and apologized and hoped my customers would have pleasant dining experience. Instead I and my family left and instead of losing $24.99 Joe's had to throwout about $80.00 worth of food, lost me and my family as customers permanantly as we will never go back, and to be sure I will tell everyone I come into contact with about my terrible dining experience, and will never again go to kemah boardwalk or any of Tillman Fertita's restuarants again!. I know Tilman personally and will tell him about this experience and to shove his bussiness interests where the sun doesn't shine. Pros: None, To bad there's catergory worse than con's!. Cons: Poor customer service, Rude management, poor judgement. more

after we ordered appetizers and drinks we went to order dinner. they apparently carry the line of t-shirts by joe's but don't have the same food as joe's. we tried to order the lobster steampot which has 2 whole lobsters. they offered to sell me one lobster tail for the price of a lobster steampot. the waiter we had informed us after everyone had ordered that they were not affiliated with the chain of joe's crab shack. the crab steamedpot was microwaved. service was horrible. the heat inside the building was unmanagable. could not enjoy the food for the heat. only one refil on drinks at table. had to ask for plates when apptizers were served. will never go back there again even though it is 2 blocks from home. will drive across town Pros: none Cons: everything more

after we ordered appetizers and drinks we went to order dinner. they apparently carry the line of t-shirts by joe's but don't have the same food as joe's. we tried to order the lobster steampot which has 2 whole lobsters. they offered to sell me one lobster tail for the price of a lobster steampot. the waiter we had informed us after everyone had ordered that they were not affiliated with the chain of joe's crab shack. the crab steamedpot was microwaved. service was horrible. the heat inside the building was unmanagable. could not enjoy the food for the heat. only one refil on drinks at table. had to ask for plates when apptizers were served. will never go back there again even though it is 2 blocks from home. will drive across town Pros: none Cons: everything more

I was in a wedding party on Friday 24, 2009, and was totally disregarded along with my 5 year old who is the flower girl. Everyone else's drink order and appetizer order was taken but ours. I had to touch the waiters in order for them to pay any attention to me, by the way we were sitting in front of the door as you walk in the room and I am not a little person. When it was time for the main course orders to be taken, we were forgotten also. I has to practically yell at both of the waiters as they were walking out of the room together. When I was served my grilled shrimp meal, the shrimp was so mushy it could dissolve if you smash it with your fingers and the same goes for the rice. I will never eat at Joe's what ever Shack in Kemah ever again and I am going to let everyone I know in Houston what type of place it is. Very unforgettable because of the worst service I had ever received! more

I was in a wedding party on Friday 24, 2009, and was totally disregarded along with my 5 year old who is the flower girl. Everyone else's drink order and appetizer order was taken but ours. I had to touch the waiters in order for them to pay any attention to me, by the way we were sitting in front of the door as you walk in the room and I am not a little person. When it was time for the main course orders to be taken, we were forgotten also. I has to practically yell at both of the waiters as they were walking out of the room together. When I was served my grilled shrimp meal, the shrimp was so mushy it could dissolve if you smash it with your fingers and the same goes for the rice. I will never eat at Joe's what ever Shack in Kemah ever again and I am going to let everyone I know in Houston what type of place it is. Very unforgettable because of the worst service I had ever received! more

Great service. KELLY was attentive and friendly. On our way back from Galveston to Houston on Saturday, we decided to stop by JCS in Kemah for dinner. It was crowded and the wait was 25 minutes. We were HUNGRY. They could use more seats in the waiting area. When we finally sat down to eat, our waitperson, KELLY, was very friendly and apologized for the wait. All I can say through out the whole dinner she was very attentive. I thought that was amazing with the atmosphere of being so crowded. That was the best service we received yet. Some restaurants are unforgivable, this one was unforgettable. Thank you Pros: Kelly was working that night Cons: They should have more wait staff like her more

Great service. KELLY was attentive and friendly. On our way back from Galveston to Houston on Saturday, we decided to stop by JCS in Kemah for dinner. It was crowded and the wait was 25 minutes. We were HUNGRY. They could use more seats in the waiting area. When we finally sat down to eat, our waitperson, KELLY, was very friendly and apologized for the wait. All I can say through out the whole dinner she was very attentive. I thought that was amazing with the atmosphere of being so crowded. That was the best service we received yet. Some restaurants are unforgivable, this one was unforgettable. Thank you Pros: Kelly was working that night Cons: They should have more wait staff like her more