Joannie’s Blue Crab Cafe

39395 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL 34141

239-695-2682 (They recommend calling before going)

This is a little restaurant located in the middle of the everglades (middle of nowhere). Be prepared to lose cell phone service.

Decided to go because I was visiting Shark Valley in the everglades and is a 40 minute drive to this restaurant. The service is amazing, they are very friendly. Their specialty is the crab cake & gator. So obviously had to order it. The decoration is funky and humorous.

As you walk in the restaurant your are told to pick a drink from the refrigerator and a table. I recommend to sit outside as there is a canal out in the back with alligators.

The crab cake burger was good. The crab was well seasoned and came with a side of fries and coleslaw. I think I liked the crispy fries more than the burger.

The gator was little fried nuggets, it was amazingly fresh. Very good taste, there are several gators out back on the canal and they tasted so fresh like they had just gone hunting and brought to our table.

For desert ordered the homemade peanut butter pie and the key lime pie. I did not like the peanut butter pie. Was too sweet and over powering. The key lime pie was delicious not too sweet, real key limes, would have seconds.

Overall, I would not drive so far. If I was in the area might return for the gator and service. There was nothing unique about the crab cake, fresh but not worth driving two hours. The key lime pie was very good but again I can get the same one in Miami and don’t have to drive so much or lose cell service.