S T.
Yelp
SO DISAPPOINTED!
My friend and I were looking for a nice seafood dinner for our last night in Key West. Unfortunately, we waited too long to make reservations, so we stopped into The Stoned Crab around 6:30 pm since it wasn't busy.
We now know why it wasn't busy.
The prices are SO HIGH! Keep in mind we are retired military folks who save carefully for our vacations. We used to live in Key West & visit regularly, so we're prepared for the high prices, but this place is ridiculous. I finally settled on a one pound stuffed lobster for $40 and my friend ordered a chilled shellfish dish for $64. We also ordered a fish dip app ($16) and a couple of cocktails.
The fish dip was so basic and bland - zero flavor. It was served with some weird seeded flatbread we didn't like. We asked for Saltine crackers or tortilla chips instead. Nope, they don't have those. We ate about half of it before giving up.
Our entrees arrived without the side salads listed on the menu as an accompaniment. Instead, they served small bowls of cole slaw. Ick. The lobster also came with 3 small boiled potato halves.
My friend was pleased with her entree. I tasted her's and the chilled shellfish was good. Considering it was mostly snow crab legs, it was still overpriced. Whatever.
My "stuffed" lobster on the other hand was gross. I've eaten stuffed lobster several times in the past - this wasn't it! The lobster meat hadn't been removed from the shell and they poured some kind of sauce over it. If it was stuffed, the stuffing was in the headspace and I couldn't tell. They provided no tools for removing the lobster from the shell, and after wrestling it for a single bite, I asked the server to take it back. She asked if I wanted something else, and I replied ONLY if the lobster entree was refunded. She said she would speak to the manager. She returned 10 min later asking what I would like instead. I assumed the manager okayed the refund, so I ordered KW Pink Shrimp and a side salad (total $31.) Both arrived shortly thereafter and were good enough ... nothing special.
Then our bill arrived and it turned out the manager had only credited 1/2 the cost of the lobster, even though I ate only one bite. And he/she never came over to speak with us. I was furious, but didn't make a scene. I paid the bill, left a 10% tip (our waters were never refilled, bird crap on our table was never cleaned off, and the miscommunication described above resulted in a lower tip than I would normally leave. Plus, it wasn't even busy!)
We will never go back. We will also let our active duty & retired military friends know to avoid this place at all costs. What a huge disappointment.