Written by Joliet has multiple great dining spots that serve exceptional fish, crab and shrimp dishes. This article presents the top five seafood restaurants located within our city. The spots prepare seafood according to their individual culinary traditions. Some serve spicy boils. Some also provide customers with grilled fish plates and fried seafood platters. There’s something for every seafood lover!
Red Crab Juicy Seafood holds the number one position among seafood spots in the area. Cajun seafood boil is their signature dish, which draws constant positive reviews from their customers. The town of Joliet has many special dining choices beyond its main selection. Let’s explore each restaurant and what makes them special!
1. Red Crab Juicy Seafood: Joliet’s Best Seafood Boil
Red Crab Juicy Seafood serves as Joliet’s leading seafood boil restaurant. People keep visiting the restaurant because of their delicious food. Spicy scents fill the air as you step inside. The friendly staff guides customers through their visual menu choices to find the perfect meal.
A large collection of seafood including crab legs with shrimp, mussels, and clams arrives inside metal buckets. All of it cooks in their special Cajun butter sauce that comes in different spice levels – mild for kids, medium for most people, and extra spicy for those who love heat! You can enjoy digging your hands into seafood through protective bibs and gloves, which make the experience both messy and fun.
Children especially enjoy eating sweet corn on a cob and tender red potatoes because they cook along with seafood. The Ultimate Combo at the restaurant serves two to three guests because it is a hearty meal consisting of crab, shrimp and mussels along with corn and potatoes. Spice lovers should try their famous Cajun shrimp – it packs a flavorful punch!
You can view the entire Cajun seafood menu beforehand through their online platform. Customers find the restaurant premises spotless while the staff works diligently to provide superb dining experiences for all guests. For family gatherings and casual evenings spent with friends, this restaurant is the perfect choice.
2. The Crab Pad: Fresh Catches Every Day
You can find Joliet’s freshest seafood at The Crab Pad since their coastal suppliers drop off new deliveries each day. You can really taste the difference!
They deliver warm bread along with butter to your table when you sit down as a starter of your dining experience. Joliet residents hold the restaurant’s fried shrimp basket in special regard. A beautiful golden crunch covers the shrimp exterior that retains its tender, juicy inside. This dish arrives with delightful French fries and creamed coleslaw.
You can also try the grilled salmon, which maintains a thin, crispy shell while revealing its soft interior. Each serving includes steamed veggies that maintain an enjoyable crisp texture. The establishment serves its fresh oysters raw on the half shell with both lemon wedges and cocktail sauce. Squeezing lemon on them makes the ocean-fresh flavor pop!
The Crab Pad offers both quick lunchtime meals and casual dinner service. Wait times are efficient, although they never push customers to leave their tables. The restaurant staff show both attentiveness and welcome guests warmly. The restaurant offers affordable rates for its high-quality meals and substantial portions, another plus point for the seafood lovers.
3. Hook & Reel: Southern Seafood with Flavor
Casual Southern seafood restaurant Hook & Reel does not lack in taste or excitement. As soon as you step in, your mouth begins to water because of the aroma of spices and butter.
Tables have checkered tablecloths to make the setting more casual. It truly feels like a friendly neighborhood spot like the kind where everybody knows your name.
You can literally taste the sweet crab in each and every bite of their crab cakes, filled with lump crab meat and virtually no filler. Thick and hearty seafood gumbo consists of plump shrimp, spicy sausage, and vegetables bathing in a dark, flavorful broth. The standout is their fried catfish; the coating is crisp, holds up to the sauce, but the fish inside stays moist and flaky. Your fork gets it so it comes off in perfect chunks.
The service here is warm and welcoming. A lot of servers do remember regular customers’ favorite orders. Portions are generous – you’ll definitely leave full! If you’re in the mood for a satisfying, delicious seafood experience with a bit of Southern charm, then this is the perfect place.
4. Ocean’s Catch: Coastal Vibes in the Midwest
Ocean’s Catch brings the ocean right to the Joliet downtown area. The restaurant gives the feel of a beachside eatery with objects such as wooden walls and a fishing rod.
During warm weather, they allow visitors to take their seafood, sit at their well-arranged picnic tables and enjoy it while out in the sun. Real shells and sand dollars are collected from the actual beach and placed on shelves. The ambiance of this restaurant is rather homelike and free from stress.
The shrimp boil is basic in its offering of tasty shrimp, corn and potatoes boiled to perfection with the perfect seasoning. Fish and chips consist of beer-battered tender cod fish that is crispy on the outside and soft inside, served with thick-cut fries and malt vinegar.
Their background music includes songs that evoke the idea of being on a vacation, especially at the coastline. It is the least fancy restaurant on this list, and you are welcome to order fish and seafood while dressed freely.
5. Blue Water Grill: Elegant Seafood Dining
Joliet residents can find an upscale seafood dining experience at Blue Water Grill. The dining room features soft lighting with comfortable chairs and candle-lit tables that create a special dining experience.
The seafood tower at Blue Water Grill stands as an ideal choice for special celebrations. Fresh oysters, plump shrimp, and bright red crab legs stay perfectly chilled on a bed of ice. The presentation matches its delectable taste because it looks as beautiful as it tastes. The grilled scallops have tenderness and sweetness because they reach just the right level of heat during cooking.
The staff members possess extensive knowledge about the entire menu and can suggest appropriate wine pairings. The restaurant has high prices due to its premium ingredients and exceptional service to cater to special events. Joliet residents choose this restaurant as their top option for special celebrations and guest entertainment.
Final Thoughts
At Joliet, you can enjoy superb seafood dining experiences at their excellent restaurants. Each one offers something different:
- Red Crab Juicy Seafood is best for fun, flavorful boils
- The Crab Pad shines with ultra-fresh daily catches
- Hook & Reel delivers satisfying Southern-style seafood
- Ocean’s Catch offers relaxed beach vibes
- Blue Water Grill provides elegant fine dining
Your dining experience should begin with Red Crab, so you can taste their signature Cajun seafood boils, Joliet, IL. Make your first stop at Red Crab, but try the other restaurants during visits to Joliet as well. The dining options in Joliet presents unique elements to local customers and I’m sure you will not be disappointed!
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