CJ's Crab Shack
Pictured above: Drunken Shrimp, Buffalo Shrimp, Miami Vice, and Shrimp Tacos
Similar to News Cafe, CJ's Crab Shack is also located along the lively Miami street of Ocean Drive. However the outdoor seating is a bit closer to the action, which based on personal preference may or may not be enjoyable while dining. Again, we opted to enjoy the outdoor dining experience and we were given a table towards the back corner. Unfortunately for us and a few guests that were trying to enjoy their meals, there was a tacky, gortesque group of wypipo back there behaving obnoxiously and blowing cigarette smoke everywhere to the dismay of everyone around.
We were not having it and asked for a different table to which we were easily accommodated. Our server was polite and had an upbeat attitude. When the drinks arrived they were beyond exquisite. The Miami Vice was a cheerful blend of pina colada and strawberry daiquiri. I appreciated the fact that some of the alcohol came separated from the drink itself inside of a glass tube that was placed inside of the cups. This way you could add the liquor to your drink at your own pace. The food portions were extremely generous and everything was dripping with flavor.
The drunken shrimp was perfectly seasoned and soaked in beer and Cajun spices. It came with a side of bread, and I found myself soaking the bread in the juices until it was all gone. The buffalo shrimp were the obvious addiction. They were crisp and crunchy, and served in a delicious sweet BBQ sauce that left me wanting more and more. The shrimp tacos were filled with mildly seasoned shrimp and fresh veggies that were crunchy and seasoned well. The fries complimented everything well, and they were so plentiful there was no way to finish them all.