Joe's Stone Crab

Joe's Stone Crab is a Miami Beach legend that began in 1913, when Joe Weiss opened a humble lunch counter on the sands of South Beach, long before the area was even a city. Over more than a century the Weiss family turned that porch operation into one of America's most storied restaurants, famous for the Florida stone crab claws that are sustainably harvested and served only in season, from October 15 to May 1.

Beyond the white-tablecloth dining room, Joe's runs a thriving takeaway and market operation that lets you bring the legend home. Joe's Take Away, next door to the restaurant, sells the same freshly cooked stone crab claws by the pound with mustard sauce, plus sandwiches, sides, the famous Key lime pie and other classics to go, with no wait for a table. The brand also ships its claws nationwide overnight, so the taste of Miami Beach can land on tables across the country.

Visitor tip: if the restaurant's no-reservation line looks daunting, the Take Away counter is the savvy move, grab claws and Key lime pie for a beach picnic or a hotel-room feast. It is a delicious shortcut into Miami's food history.