Joe's Crab Shack-Redondo Beach

05/17/10

Good weekend lunch spot

by anekab at Citysearch

This location in Redondo is a good alternative lunch spot to the crowded pier. If you're lucky, or patient, you can snag an outdoor table and enjoy the ocean view. On a great weather day you'll see boats leaving the harbor, kayakers paddling around the inlet, and probably spot a sea lion or two cruising the quiet waters. A table outdoors will also allow you to avoid most of the pounding rock indoors. My husband and I will often drive down from Los Angeles for the afternoon on a Sunday to just enjoy a relaxing few hours near the ocean. Living in the San Gabriel Valley, we don't often see the ocean and it's a great afternoon getaway for us. I particularly like choosing a few items from the appetizers and just snack.

• Pros: Casual, lots of parking, near the ocean
• Cons: Can get noisy

07/29/07

Worst customer service experience we've ever had...

by e2007 at Citysearch

When introduced to manager, Matt Contreras, it was a very cold and very uncaring wall we were met with. I was hung up on by Matt twice, and my 'better half' was hung up on once. When he went to talk to him in person, Matt ended up turning his back and walking away. We finally asked for all our money back...the food was cold anyway, and I didn't want anything to do with Matt at Redondo Beach's Joe's Crab Shack, even if that meant going hungry for the night because it was now 2 hours later and everything else was closed. In smallest terms, this manager saw fit to treat me very rudely, and then to blame that rudeness on me (that I was not getting around to my problem fast enough, but that my problem was NOT our order confusion...especially NOT the lack of plastic dinnerware as he seems to have told the entire restaurant...who now think we asked for our money back because they forgot plastic dinnerware in our to-go bag...???...but our problem now was HIM and him treating us in a way you'd treat someone you don't like, NOT in a way AT ALL that said to us "you matter as a customer and I want to help." It was the LACK of that that became the issue. I'll just say that you can go to this location and have a great time IF...if...you stay clear of Matt if you have a problem that needs resolved. He will ultimately blame it on you, treat you like you're petty for having an issue, and also treat you like an annoyance. If that is not how he feels, then hopefully he'll get some training in how to communicate with customers.

We'll maybe try to eat here again because we like it minus Matt Contreras, but we'll call before hand to make sure he is not working. The to-go issue is a little lame, yes, but if you know the rules and follow them, you'll get your to-go order with no surprises. Keith, one of the servers, is the BEST server ever, and so much so that you'll want to call in advance to reserve a table in his area. Basically, KEITH ought to be manager and Matt tossed!!!!

• Pros: Matt Contreras, one of the managers, we're sure has nights off.
• Cons: Matt Contreras, one of the managers, does have to work and be there sometimes.

03/15/06

Can't believe it made the best list!

by bambi1000 at Citysearch

The waterfront location made me wonder, "How can they afford to keep this location with food and service so bad and unprofessional?" The salt on the bar-b-cue crab is what seemed appealing to the people in my crowd, so I created my own version and will never see that place again. Food-nasty and embarrassing. Service-like being served by the most absent minded staff that they could of hired. "Hello, don't you want to make a great tip with 10 people at a table? The drinks should of been remembered, served in a timely manner, and kept coming to keep us drunk enough to ignore the unbearable music, the unrecognizable calamari and the huge bill. Why put a children themed crab place on the waterfront in a posh location? Don't understand why the investors fell for that concept.

• Pros: Great location, Great views, Great???
• Cons: Food, Service, Theme

01/27/06

User review by xgin67

by xgin67 at Citysearch

portions are small, food is bland but prices are high. music is to loud, and

tables are for picnics.

10/22/02

SEAFOOD SUCKS

by chamber at Citysearch

I think the seafood at Joes is awful. It is the most spindly little crab legs, and everything is fried to mask the taste. My meal sucked, and the manager tried to convince me the crab legs were not little and spindly when I complained. They were literally the size of a pencil. It sucks and isn't even worth its cheap price.

• Pros: good for kids
• Cons: bad food, bad service, overpriced