Joe’s Crab Shack has been serving seafood and sass since 1991 — but who is Joe? In this week’s episode, I dig deep into the murky origins of this kitschy crustacean-themed chain, uncovering mystery, missteps, and marketing that somehow works. From accidentally boozed-up babies to scandalous decorations and trans fat deception, Joe’s has made some serious waves. Plus, I’m joined by longtime friend and podcast voice Sandy Rose to question whether you can truly trust a restaurant that sells shirts saying “I’ve Got Crabs.”
Is Joe’s just a goofy seafood joint? Or a case study in chaotic chain dining gone rogue?
🦐 Who is Joe? And why can’t we find him?
🕺 Dancing Servers & Shark Mocktails Gone Horribly Wrong
🚫 The No-Tipping Policy That Sunk Morale
💀 The Lynching Photo That Sparked Outrage
🧈 Trans Fat Lies (and Why They Were So Tasty)
👕 Merch Madness: Peace, Love & Crabs
📉 From 130+ Locations to Just 20 Today
🏝️ Sandy Rose’s Holiday-Themed Restaurant Pitch
💬 COMMENT BELOW: Have you eaten at Joe’s Crab Shack? Did your waiter dance or just bring you trauma?
📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
🔥 Patreon (Bonus reviews & exclusive content!): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast
💬 Discord (Chat chains & share horror stories!): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4
🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast
🔗 All links: www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast
⚡ Like, Subscribe & Share if you love deep dives into crabby chaos!
👉 NEXT WEEK: We ate at Joe’s. Was it all kitsch and crabs — or something much weirder? Stay tuned. 🪝
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