Seafood lovers, rejoice! Stone crab season is making its return on October 15th, which means it’s time to roll those sleeves up and get crackin’ on some buttery, fresh claws. Running until May 1st, these delicious crustaceans will slowly begin to appear on menus all across South Florida, which is why we’ve put together a list of the best spots in Miami to grab stone crab this season. Get ready to dig in!
1. Joe’s Stone Crab, South Beach
A total institution of stone crab season, Joe’s has been serving hungry Floridians its fresh claws for over a hundred years since it discovered the delectable crustacean — or at least so they claim! This traditional spot in South Beach offers fine dining and decadence where you can enjoy your claws with a side of their classic hash browns or creamed spinach. Beware though, it can be really difficult to snag a reservation!
P.S.: If you’d rather not wait, you can always get Joe’s claws to-go from their takeaway spot right next door.
📍 11 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
2. Garcia’s Seafood Grille, East Little Havana
This laid-back spot is another absolute classic of the 305 and one of our favorite ones when it comes to waterfront dining. Grab a spot on their patio and enjoy some of the freshest claws and seafood in town with some gorgeous views of the Miami River.
📍 398 NW N River Dr, Miami, FL 33128
3. Stiltsville Fish Bar, Miami Beach
‘Tis the season for stone crab claws at this Sunset Harbor restaurant! They’re served on a bed of ice with a side of Stiltsville’s signature champagne mustard sauce, and are available by the claw or a number of other delicious seafood options in their Tacklebox. There’s no better place to be, especially on Thursdays, where happy hour runs from 3 to 7 p.m. for stone crab specials.
📍 1787 Purdy Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
4. Truluck’s, Brickell
This lovely surf and turf spot in Brickell is also great for those looking to enjoy their claws over a nice dinner. They take pride in serving their crab claws uber-fresh — never frozen. Once crabs are caught, they’re removed and cooked directly after harvest. Then, they’re packed in ice and delivered to the restaurant within hours!
📍 777 Brickell Ave suite 110, Miami, FL 33131
5. Michael’s Genuine, Miami Design District
Get it crackin’ at this wildly popular eatery, which receives about 100 pounds of stone crabs a week at minimum. For the past decade, James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Scwhartz has been teaming up with the best local fishermen to serve the best stone crabs in town. Here, the crabs are simply served in ice with a homemade mustard sauce and a green sambal sauce for a kick! They’ll be available all season long during lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.
📍 130 NE 40th St, Miami, FL 33137
6. Bayshore Club, Coconut Grove
If you’re looking to enjoy your claws alfresco with a view, Regatta Harbour’s waterfront bar and grill is one of the best choices. The Bayshore Club is offering stone crab claws on ice with a classic mustard sauce all season long! Don’t forget to indulge in their Crab & Shrimp Cocktail Cooler, which will feature jumbo FL stone crab claws for a bang for your buck.
📍 3391 Pan American Dr, Miami, FL 33133
7. Glass & Vine, Coconut Grove
Fresh claws AND ladies night is certainly hard to beat. At Glass & Vine, you can celebrate the start of Miami’s favorite season with stone crab claws on Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m., which falls right in line with ladies night. So grab your gals and enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbles to pair!
📍 2820 McFarlane Rd, Miami, FL 33133
8. George Stone Crab, Brickell
A total Miami staple when it comes to stone crabs, George’s ships its crab claws (available in medium, large, jumbo and colossal sizes) all around the country. You can also choose to add on their homemade butter or mustard sauces, Russian caviar and even a freshly baked key lime pie to round off your meal!
Order online through their website.
9. Fresh Florida Fisheries, West Dade
This laid-back market in West Dade is best known for its fried fish, but during stone crab season you can also find some pretty good claws at this spot that offers them at a much more affordable price than a lot of its competitors!
📍 2238 SW 57th Ave, Miami, FL 33155
10. Makoto
If you’re looking to switch things up this year, Makoto is bringing a Japanese twist to stone crabs this season. Presented on ice, they’re being served with a mouthwatering Ponzu Aioli and a hot Wasabi Cocktail Sauce, making it the ultimate fire and ice combo.
📍 9700 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33154