Joanie's is a seafood staple in the middle of the Everglades - Review - Miami - The Infatuation

"You don’t really have a choice when it comes to restaurants on the Tamiami Trail, a road that knives directly through the Everglades from Miami to Naples. Joanie’s is it, which they remind you with a handwritten message on the chalkboard behind the register. “If you want fast food, keep traveling. 44 miles west or 66 miles east.” photo credit: Ryan Pfeffer photo credit: Ryan Pfeffer But this 38-year-old restaurant with a self-deprecating sense of humor is not just a last resort for tourists who need to use the bathroom immediately. Joanie’s is a destination on its own for anyone who loves blue crab, fried swamp critters, and a slice of old Florida we feared had been lost to french bulldog-ridden apartment complexes. video credit: Ryan Pfeffer photo credit: Ryan Pfeffer photo credit: Ryan Pfeffer Pause Unmute Joanie’s is just about in the middle of the Everglades, and the closest thing that could be called civilization is Everglades City, a nearby fishing town where the restaurant sources its blue crab. You should order everything on the menu that utilizes that crab, especially the fried soft shell crab sandwich. Also be prepared to eat a lot of fried things, because the other essential order is the swamp combo, a basket of crispy creatures you can probably find in Joanie’s backyard. Thankfully, the gargantuan mosquitoes that emerge after a summer rain can’t penetrate Joanie’s screened-in porch. So both that and the humid dining room are itch-free zones. Don’t expect modern amenities at Joanie’s. The portable air conditioning units are as strong as a gerbil’s lungs. Every square inch of wallspace is taken up by something that must have a fascinating backstory: a greying photograph of a man with a Florida panther on a leash, a dangling coconut that’s been carved into a pirate’s head, and so many taxidermied alligator heads. If this doesn’t sound like a beautiful thing to you, then keep driving. You’re almost to Naples, and you don’t belong this deep in the swamp. Food Rundown She Crab Soup Joanie’s is generous with the crab, and there are strands of crab meat in every spoonful of this steamy soup. Can’t say we exactly recommend it on a sweltering August day, but it’s a satisfying bowl of hot broth. PlayMute video credit: Ryan Pfeffer Homemade Fry Bread Joanie’s town of Ochopee is an unincorporated community in Collier County, but it’s very close to the Miccosukee reservation, which is why fry bread makes an appearance on the menu. Joanie’s fry bread is thinner than some versions, and comes with a chunky salsa. But it’s better when dipped into the she crab soup. photo credit: Ryan Pfeffer Soft Shell Sandwich A soft bun, a crispy whole crab, one slice of tomato, and one lettuce leaf. This is worth the three-hour round trip from Miami on a Sunday whenever you’re looking for a sandwich adventure. photo credit: Ryan Pfeffer Swamp Combo There’s catfish, gator, frog legs, and hush puppies in this basket. The gator—not too chewy—is some of the finest fried gator we’ve had in South Florida. But nothing in this beats the impossibly tender white meat you can pick off the frog legs. photo credit: Ryan Pfeffer Key Lime Pie Joanie’s key lime pie could be 15% more tart, but it is in the ideal state of semi-frozenness, which is what you want in a dining room that feels a bit like a sauna. photo credit: Ryan Pfeffer" - Ryan Pfeffer