Monday, August 24, 2009

Joe's Oyster Bar, 207 Maxan, Port Isabel, TX

Walk inside Joe's Oyster Bar and you're headed for a treat. From the outside it looks like a seafood store - which it is. I drove past it many times before I finally ventured inside since I'm a consumer of already prepared seafood, not the kind I have to take home and cook.

To get to the restaurant, you walk through the store. The restaurant itself is clean, simple, and colorfully decorated with murals and appropriate decor.

The menu is more diverse than I anticipated. Everett and I had a hard time choosing between the homemade crab cakes and stuffed jalapenos (shrimp and seafood stuffing) for appetizers. Based on the waiter's recommendations we chose the crab cakes. What a great choice! They are homemade, filled with chunks of crab meat, and the best crab cakes I've eaten.

Determined to sample the shrimp, we went with the waiter's suggestion and ordered the 8 grilled shrimp with fries and cole slaw. We split the entre. Another excellent choice - gulf shrimp are huge, tender, and absolutely delicious.

Don't expect fancy. They serve you on paper plates with plastic silverware. The sauces are served in small plastic cups. What you can expect is great taste!

The menu also includes fish, oysters, and fish sandwiches, sodas, iced tea and beer. Prices range from $3.25 for one large stuffed jalapeno and $3.95 for one homemade crab cake to $10.95 for the grilled fish, shrimp and oyster plate or Joey's deluxe seafood special (fish, shrimp, oysters, and 1 stuffed crab).

I recommend this place if you want to sample good home-style seafood. I certainly intend to return and try a number of different items.


They are open for dine in and carryout seven days a week: 11:00am to 7:00pm. Their phone number is 956.943.4501.