How about Joe's Crab Shack?

[sgtdisney]

I have never been to a Joe's in Orlando because we have them here in Chicago and I try to experience different things when I am on vacation. Our Joe's here are fine, from my experiences. A little loud as others have mentioned, but the food wasn't all that bad for a chain style seafood restaurant. When we are in Orlando we tend to go to The Crab House, another chain (and in fact part of the same chain that owns Joe's) but no locations here by us. We have also gone to Fish Bones as well. I know a lot of people had mentioned Shells.. Here in Chicago the Shells were so bad that they all closed. Maybe it depends on the area these chains are located in...

 

[kennancat]

I think the seafood in Florida stinks, anywhere.

Ouch! As a native Floridian, I feel a little offended by such a blanket statement. Sure, there are a lot of tourist traps with bad seafood, but there are also a lot of highly acclaimed seafood restaurants in Florida. You're right, you're not going to get good Maine lobster in Florida, but if you stick to the local (i.e. fresh) availability, such as grouper, dolphin, and shrimp, you can get some excellent food. But if you're judging the state based on seafood that's native to the Northeast, it's not going to be any fresher or better here than it would be in Ohio or Indiana. Check out seafood restaurants from Florida Trend Magazine's Golden Spoon winners, and ask what they have fresh if you really want to get some good seafood in Florida.

 

[MrsMud]

Well, I am glad to see at least a few people like Joe's. I got a gift certificate for Landry's and planned to use it there, after it was specifically recommended to me from amongst the Landry offerings. I am certainly not expecting gourmet food, but the atmosphere sounds fun to us ( two Dds, 5 and 7). I guess we could always do Rainforest Cafe again, but I wanted to try someting different this time. I guess we'll have to go and form our own opinions.

 

[mrsstats]

I would go for the kids. When we were there all the kids were having a great time. They get up to dance when the waiters do

 

[HockeyDadof2]

Originally posted by MrsMud
Well, I am glad to see at least a few people like Joe's. I got a gift certificate for Landry's and planned to use it there, after it was specifically recommended to me from amongst the Landry offerings. I am certainly not expecting gourmet food, but the atmosphere sounds fun to us ( two Dds, 5 and 7). I guess we could always do Rainforest Cafe again, but I wanted to try someting different this time. I guess we'll have to go and form our own opinions.

This is one of those place you will apparently have to form your own opinion about. The Golden Corral thread really amazed me, I for one absolutely hate the food there, but it seems most like it....most that responded to the discussion anyway. I have never been to the Joe's in Orlando but would guess that it's pretty much the same as the ones here in the Dallas area. I am with a previous poster who tries to eat at places we don't eat at when we are home, and we have Joe's all over the place here. The kids will have a good time there. Rainforest Cafe is another that gets mixed reviews, but we all really like it.

 

[debbie655]

I too was surprised by the thread regarding Golden Corral. As many times as we have been to Orlando I would never even have thought to try this place. Maybe we will try it this year.

We also like Rainforest Cafe, having only eaten here once though. I had read very mixed reviews of this restaurant a few years ago but decided to try it anyway. No complaints from my family. I had the pot roast which I thought was really delicious.

We all have our own tastes I guess, I've read here where so many people don't like Red Lobster. We eat here when we visit Orlando and enjoy it.

 

[MouseLover]

I love Joe's. We do not have one in our area, but always choose to eat there in Orlando and Dallas when we are there. We sometimes drive to Tulsa (2 hrs away) primarily to eat at Joe's.
The atmosphere is fun, the food is very tasty, and the prices are very reasonable. Also the bananas foster is great -- just like at Landry's, but less $$ for the same dessert. I love the crab balls, fried crab claws, shrimp, etc........

However, I most definitely would like to try "fresh" lobster from Maine some day.