We had a delightful visit from my sister Shannon, her husband Beau and son Brian this past Sunday and Monday. Brian is a junior in high school in Raleigh, North Carolina and for his spring break he opted for a quick visit to Marco Island (for seafood and pickleball!), the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Arena for tennis, plus a little time at the avocado farm and a fishing charter out of Key Largo. They covered a lot of territory in 4 days! A few months earlier they had shared an article with us about a rustic diner deep in the Everglades that Beau's father had highly recommended. It was on their mind during the visit so out of curiosity we followed them 40 miles east to experience the one and only Joanie's Blue Crab cafe housed in the oldest standing building in the Everglades. www.visitflorida.com/travel-ideas/articles/outdoors-nature-the-everglades-joanies-blue-crabs/
The vibe is eclectic, warm and welcoming and the sign near the entry makes it clear that if you desire fast food then it is best to keep traveling 40+ miles. Otherwise, grab a drink from the cooler, choose a table, and make yourself at home. The restaurant boasts a tropical breeze, creaky hard-wood floors, and the option of patio dining overlooking lush grass and swamplands. We elected to eat in the main dining area with solid picnic tables and benches for our family.
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Between the 5 of us, we were keenly aware of Joanie's reputation for fresh crab cakes. Fortunately the crab cakes were the days special! In addition, the grouper tacos sounded equally appetizing and we ordered them both blackened and grilled. The crabcakes were divine, each bite absolutely rich in flavorful crab meat. The grouper too was fresh and flavorful. We give Joanie's Cafe' 5-stars for its delicious food and its quaint and curious vibe. If you are traveling from Miami to Naples on Tamiami Trail, make sure you take a pit-stop at Joanie's!
Pickleball was a new sport for my sister's family. Brian is an incredible tennis player so he made the learning curve look easy! They met some of our Florida friends and overall seemed to enjoy this popular, sociable activity. It was a wonderful way to conclude our snowbird adventure. Until next time, Marco Island!
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