Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant

You know Joe's by now. You know about the storied history, the gloriously sweet stone crabs, the notorious wait to get in. Often overlooked are its consistently good food, truly professional service, free parking, surprising affordability (excepting the crabs), and stately ambiance that only a restaurant large enough to seat 450 can provide. Tuxedoed waiters whirl through the rooms with oval trays of food held high above their heads, and the ebullient buzz of diners subtly occupies the air like the intangible gathering of ions before a thunderstorm, yet it's difficult to imagine so sizable a dining room being any cozier. 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 menu doesn't disappoint. And nearly everybody orders Joe's key lime pie for dessert, renowned as the best in town.