Joe's Crab Shack vs. Red Lobster

TJ Jackson


I like seafood, but I do not like either of these two establishments

For me, this is like asking whether I'd prefer a kick in the right knee or the left knee

How about right in the middle?

stevep


I prefer Joe's as well. I cannot stand Red Lobster because they drench everything in so much butter. Red Lobster is one of the few places where I won't eat anything on the menu.

it's NOT butter!!  it's butter-flavored oil.  ruins every dish.
 
just saw a commercial for joe's just yesterday, so they must be in this area now. 
 
i really don't like red lobster - there aren't any good seafood places near me though, so, if i REALLY want something and don't feel like cooking, i'll go there. 
 
joe's doesn't sound too promising - if it's that noisy, it's not my kind of place.

I like Red Lobster but probably only eat there once and 4 or 5 years

Red Lobster tried to make it a go IN RI, but lasted only a short time.  They could not compete with the places that served seafood.  My gues is they do best inland where frozen, microwaved seafood is acceptable.

joclyn

it's NOT butter!!  it's butter-flavored oil.  ruins every dish.
 
just saw a commercial for joe's just yesterday, so they must be in this area now. 
 
i really don't like red lobster - there aren't any good seafood places near me though, so, if i REALLY want something and don't feel like cooking, i'll go there. 
 
joe's doesn't sound too promising - if it's that noisy, it's not my kind of place.

You're probably right. It might not be butter, but even if it was real butter, that much butter would ruin any seafood dish IMO. Red Lobster does to seafood what Outback does to steak only Outback uses salt instead of butter. I want to taste the meat/seafood, not the crap they throw on it to please the abused pallets of the masses.

abe_froeman


They both suck, but if forced to choose, I'd probably go with Joe's Crab Shack.  Only because the only thing I get there is their coconut shrimp.  The sauce that comes with it is like a fairly tasty orange marmalade-type stuff, whereas the coconut shrimp at Red Lobster comes with this weird, cream-based pineapple nastiness.

Abe, I like that stuff. I even tried to re create it at home. Hey, at least we both like coconut shrimp. :~)
Joe

Oh, I ask for butter at RL. It's not real butter... but better than the melted stuff stuff they give you. Then I mix em.

The Joe's Crab Shack in Lexington, KY, has closed.  I preferred it to Red Lobster.  Neither were ever favorites, and yes Joe's was very loud and the last (and final) time we went to Red Lobster I got somekind of seafood feast that looked and tasted like something I could have bought at Long John Silver's for 1/3 of the price.  My options for good seafood are very limited here in Versailles/Lexington.

Andrea

Some one in Houston is asking if Red Lobster or Joe's is better?!?!? You live on the Gulf Coast - why would you care about crappy national chains?

I moved here to Kansas from Houston, and you are in seafood paradise - go to Captain Benny's or anywhere local.

It's like some one here driving past Arthur Bryan's to see if the McRib is any good.

I was excited when I first saw a Joes Crab Shack here in Dayton.  The thought of a place here in my seafood deprived town where one could get crabs was a real treat.  After looking at the menu, I was disappointed to say the least.  While not expecting the real deal I was at least hoping for an urbanized versionof a real crab shack.  Instead I find the usual.  King, snow, dungenese and stone crab.
They didnt make it here.  Last time I drove by they were closed.

I'm excited that I'm going to a conference in Baltimore in August, and can have crabs there.