My first stop during Restaurant Week 2012 was Joe’s Seafood. Located deep, deep within the Forum Shops (at least if you’re walking from the garage) it has an old-school atmosphere and a menu full of classic dishes. And, of course, their specialty… stone crabs. We got an a la carte order of stone crabs to start. They’re cracked before coming to the table, which makes it easy to dig in and eat. There wasn’t a ton of meat, but the meat that was there was tender and succulent. Just don’t expect it to be as sweet as king crabs or snow crabs.
I dove into the RW menu ($50.12) after that starting with a bowl of stone lobster bisque with plenty of flavor and a slight kick. The tiny bits of celery added a variation in texture that was refreshing. It came in a large bowl that would have been good enough to share.
The 8oz filet was lightly seasoned, very tender, and slightly undercooked. The quality of the prime beef was evident, but it lacked the finishing touches that would have made it exceptional.
Sides of “Jennie’s mashed potatoes” and steamed asparagus were brought for the table. The cheesy and chunky potatoes were a nice variation of the classic side and the breadcrumbs on top were an added bonus. The asparagus were standard. Nothing special, but I guess you have to have some green on your plate, right?
For dessert, I went with Joe’s signature key lime pie. I love key lime pies in any form, so this one satisfied my craving. It was far from perfect, though. Too tart and a thick and uneven crust… maybe Joe should take his name off of this dessert or consider better quality control. I also tried my wife’s dessert — the peppermint ice cream with hot fudge. Pretty good and had me thinking about candy canes a few months too soon.
It was a good and satisfying meal for sure. And, of course, part of the proceeds go to Three Square, a nonprofit food bank in southern Nevada. It’s always a good cause and an effective marketing tool to get locals to try restaurants they normally wouldn’t. Joe’s is a chain and while I’ve had it on my radar for some time to try their seafood, I haven’t gotten around to it until now. For steak, there are plenty of other places I’d go, but for seafood, I’d be willing to come back to try more of their menu.
Surprisingly, the restaurant is somewhat kid-friendly. That may not be evident from the decor or atmosphere, but they do have a kid’s menu with the typical fare — chicken tenders, grilled cheese sandwich, pasta, etc.
4 Stars
Caesar’s Palace/The Forum Shops
3500 Las Vegas Blvd S, Ste R-05
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 792-9222
