Restaurant Review: Customers cut loose at Joe’s Crab Shack

Generally I like my dining experiences to be somewhat subdued. Usually I go out to dinner with friends or family and am trying to spend quality time with them, because chances are it has been a while since I have seen them.

Talking dominates the evening as we catch up, and I don’t want anything to interfere with that. Loud music, interactive wait staff or boisterous customers at the next table are all unwelcome intrusions.

Then there are the nights I just want to cut loose.

That is when I head to Joe’s Crab Shack. It is ideal for having a good time while enjoying your meal.

This is evident from the minute you walk into the place. The beach décor, the friendly hostess and the din coming from the dining room are all tips that this meal will be anything but stuffy.

The menu is perfect for this type of atmosphere. There are lots of finger foods because forks and knives kind of seem out of place here.

There are several appetizer items that can be eaten with your hands, and four that I would choose from. The first is the crab-stuffed mushrooms. I don’t even like mushrooms and I’ll eat these any chance I get. The crab stuffing is tremendous, and the jack cheese on top is a good addition.

Another one to try is the clam strips. The menu calls it a “tower,” and it is. The portion was very generous and could have made a meal in itself.

The last two are relatively new additions to the menu and are worth trying out. The first is a jalapeno shrimp and crab ball called the Great Balls of Fire, and it will definitely burn your mouth. Ask for marinara sauce on the side to cool it down a bit.

The other is the barbecue chipotle chicken and sausage quesadilla. It’s a tasty dish when combined with the sausage and pepper jack cheese.

My friends and I don’t want to fill up too much on appetizers. We have come for crab, and crab we shall have.

The restaurant offers snow, Dungeness and king crabs that are steamed and can be combined with three distinct flavors. Garlic herb is my favorite, but a barbecue flavor and Chesapeake style is also available.

I usually go with the king crab, but the combination plate is a great way to get a taste of all three types and is a good bargain at $22.99.

A couple of friends weren’t in the mood for crab, so they ordered from a grill menu. I tried to persuade one of them to try the wood-grilled salmon. I thought the pineapple pico de gallo sauce it is topped with sounded interesting, but neither of the two would bite.

One of them had mahi mahi, which I thought was a bit too sweet and took away from the taste of the fish. They liked the coconut sauce and mango salsa combination.

The other had one of the restaurant’s specialties, the crab-stuffed shrimp. The crabmeat stuffing is quite good, and he was very satisfied.

The restaurant has added steak to its menu and has an 8-ounce top sirloin served by itself or with jumbo shrimp and the coconut/mango sauce.

This is an ideal place to bring children; if they are loud, they will hardly be noticed.

Joe’s Crab Shack

Address: 2607 W. Pacific Coast Hwy., Newport Beach

Phone: (949) 650-1818

Cuisine: Seafood

Specialty dish: King Crab Legs

Alcohol served: full bar

Dress: beach casual

Family friendly: yes

Credit cards accepted: Visa, MasterCard and American Express

Rating: ***