Joe's Crab Shack

10/04/08

Joes Looks like its not the place to be anymore

by barbieNOr at Citysearch

Maybe Joes crab shack is not a good fit for the folks of Portland area. Joes use to be one of my favorite places to eat in California and excited for this one to open I ran there. Long lines long waits but Time and time again disappointed to the point I now will not return. I think Joes is made more for vacationers, and this town isn't busting with them.

We had a big party on a Friday night and there was plenty of parking and no wait. What does that tell you? The song and dance is not cute anymore when you already have to wait a very long time to get your food to have your server doing a song and dance. Who are they trying to impress? They are slow slow slow. Food is not even worth taking leftovers home. The fish and chips went uneaten by nearly everyone in our party and you would think the staff realized this it really looked like a yellow fish and no flavor! The crab stuffed shrimp was full of crab shells. I bit into several. I knew from experience that sharing my disatisfaction gets you no where with this company. I will never go back so if someone suggests joe's; tell them to go to BURGERVILLE and get the halibut fish and chips for 7.00 you will be much much more satisified! If you want crab try Red Lobster. I have always had good luck there and they stand behind their quality.

• Pros: its on the river
• Cons: slow; bad food; poor quality and flavor and they don't stand behind it. Eat at your own risk

helpful (0) not helpful (0)

Comments

Burnette– July 02, 2009 at 17:58:13 PDT

If you had shared with the staff or manger that you were not happy with the food, they would have bent over backwards to do whatever to make your experience a great one.

comment

10/19/09

Im glad I didnt pay attention to the bad reviews

by angsgirl at Citysearch

We had a fabulous time, and I almost didnt go because of the bad reviews this place had gotten. The atmosphere was fun and loud. The service was excellent, friendly, upbeat. The food was perfect. We had crab nachos (not what you expect but yummmmmm) and shared The crab feast steam pot. The red pot.s were good the sausage tasted boiled, but we werent there for sausage. We were having such a good time we closed the place down and not one person looked at us impatiently or started vacuuming like most places will. They kept saying not a problem and were happy we were happy. We cant wait to go back.

• Pros: Yummy Mai Tais
• Cons: A long drive for us is the only bad thing I can write

06/17/09

great view, thats it

by chefmikey01 at Citysearch

First the bartender on duty can't mix drinks, our waiter had to go back and try again on my wifes mojito. Garlic bread appetizer was ok but not worth the price, seafood enchiladas tasted like seasalt enchiladas, overall, a very bad and expensive outing. I will never go back to Joes Cra p Shack!! If you want river views and decks just go next door to Who-song and Larrys.

• Pros: on the river
• Cons: kitchens food

06/01/09

Not half bad.

by lcpio2010 at Citysearch

Let's get one thing straight right away: Joe's Crab Shack is a chain restaurant. Aka lower your expectations! With that in mind...

I went with my aunt, aunt's friend, and cousin this evening. I am always wary of chain restaurants and had some reservations about Joe's, but it surprised me. The crab was good, very meaty and one bucket was adequate for my cousin and I to split. It was cooked fine. I couldn't taste the seasoning, but I love plain dungeness crab dipped in butter regardless. The sides were a little skimpy. Got a refill on our drinks no problem. Service was friendly. And the location is awesome; it was so nice to relax and chat with good people outside on the deck overlooking the Columbia River.

The only downside was the price. I admit, it was way too expensive for what you got. But to be fair, that is how most chain restaurants are.

So here is my recommendation: if you go here, keep in mind that it is a chain restaurant. It is tacky, loud, and the food will not be winning an award anytime soon. But for a relaxed atmosphere, decent grub, and good views, this place isn't half bad. If you want white tablecloths and caviar, go elsewhere and let the rest of us middle Americans enjoy it.

• Pros: Decent food, great views, fun atmosphere
• Cons: Overpriced

05/05/09

Sorry I went there

by plamarie at Citysearch

Dirty distasteful water! Dirty, especially the bathrooms. Fried food that isn't even tastefl is mostly what composes the menu.

• Pros: the view
• Cons: the cleanliness

04/05/09

Don't Go to Joe's

by pshapard at Citysearch

Everything is steamed and over cooked. No flavor.

I will never go back and suggest that you go anywhere else BUT this place. I eat out a lot and this place is an overpriced joke!

• Pros: location
• Cons: FOOD

04/02/09

SteamPots NO BUENO

by boggs2612 at Citysearch

This place makes Red Lobster look like MORTONS! Staff was very friendly, but the food was awful. We ordered the Beantown Bake (2 Lobsters, 1LB clams, 6 shrimp, 1 sausage, 2 potatoes). The lobster were so tiny they could have been confused for a large crawfish. They were obviously frozen....I could have got a larger and fresher one at Albertsons. Clams were way overcooked, corn was mushy overall for a $40.99 bake for 2 it wasn't worth $20.

• Pros: scenic view
• Cons: quality, disco lights, bad dancing servers!

08/14/08

Long wait for bad food

by jobiemom at Citysearch

We had hoped to beat the heat by enjoying a meal on the deck near the river. Our food took over 30 minutes to arrive and our steak looked like it had been microwaved. The manager came over an apologized and said he "wanted to take care of us" and offered to buy our dinner and give us desserts. We passed on the desserts. Then we received a bill and he had only taken off $12.00 for my son's meal not the $22.00 Steak. We paid the bill but told the manager that were not happy and would not be back.

The manager didn't have much time for us because he was too busy apologizing to every table around us.

I wish I had read the other reviews before we went out tonight.

07/16/08

Joe's salt lick??

by Kaitersma2003 at Citysearch

Tonight we went to Joe's to celebrate a birthday. In our party of 4 was my 16 year old daughter how is a vegetarian who is not into fish. We had been there a couple of years ago and she was able to order a cheese pizza. Tonight however there was nothing on the menu she cared for. There was not a good vegetarian choice. we asked for a children's menu and was told that she was to old for the kid's menu. I asked if they did grilled cheese and was told no, I asked about the pizza she had that last time she was there and was told it was on the kids menu. I asked if we could order it and I was willing to pay more and again I was told no. This was said very rudely. Since this was the birthday persons choice of restaurant and we had already ordered beverages and that had been delivered, we did not get up and leave or make a fuss. My daughter ended up ordering french fries which came in a small dish. The fries had so much salt on them that she could not eat them. The other food served was also high in salt content, even the garlic bread was salty.

As for service so-so but she was not very helpful. View is wonderful but it would of been nicer if the windows were clean and free of cobwebs.

This will be the last time I go to Joe's. I had gone there a couple of months ago and the service was slow and the food not worth the price.

04/09/08

No longer on 101 SE Columbia Way, but the one on the hill overlooking Portland is out of sight

by DundeeRain at Citysearch

great food, good service, and valet parking.

Awesome view of the city after dark. If you have not been to

The Chart House,

take your Gold Card and wife and go. Worth the dining experience.

• Pros: Good food
• Cons: expensive to almost over priced