Deep in the heart of Ochopee, Florida, sits a weathered building that’s been serving locals and wandering adventurers since the 1920s. Welcome to Joanie’s Blue Crab Cafe.
Here, inside the oldest standing structure in the Everglades, Joanie Griffin holds court over what might be the state’s most authentic swamp diner.
This isn’t just a restaurant—it’s an experience that captures the essence of Old Florida in every creaky floorboard and rusty fishing pole hanging from the rafters. 🐊
How Joanie’s won local’s hearts
Joanie’s Blue Crab Cafe didn’t win hearts with fancy marketing or slick presentation. Instead, it captured the souls of locals and visitors through pure authenticity and Joanie Griffin’s larger-than-life personality.
Born in Florida in 1939, Joanie practically grew up in the Everglades fishing and hunting with her late husband.
When she took over the old restaurant twenty years ago, she brought with her the no-nonsense attitude and genuine warmth that defines true Southern hospitality.
The restaurant’s legendary status grew from Joanie’s fearless approach to running her establishment.
She’s known for telling impatient customers, “If you want fast food, mister, ya’ll better go to Miami,” with Miam-maw being sixty miles and half a century away.
Her handwritten chalkboard warning sets the tone: “If you want fast food, travel 42 miles west or 66 east. Happy trails, ya’ll.
Watch the gators.” This unapologetic embrace of slow living and swamp culture resonated with people hungry for authenticity in an increasingly manufactured world.
Bears have literally tried to break into her kitchen, leading her to install an electrified fence, yet she remains undaunted—a bravery that locals find both admirable and entertaining. 🎣
Food Highlights
- Swamp Combo: Features fried frog legs (described as the meatiest ever), tender gator nuggets with crispy coating, house-made crab cake, Indian fry bread, and Joanie’s famous salsa made with squash and swamp cabbage instead of tomatoes
- Crab Cake Sandwich: Packed with more crab than filling, served on fresh bread and praised by customers as consistently excellent and generously sized
- Gator Nuggets: Tender alligator meat with perfectly crispy coating that customers describe as “absolutely perfect” and some of the best they’ve tried
- Swamp Dog: A foot-long all-beef Black Angus hot dog loaded with toppings that’s so massive it’s hard to finish, served with fries and coleslaw
- Key Lime Pie: Make-your-cheeks-pucker tart and refreshingly cold, almost frozen, consistently rated as some of the best in the area
- She Crab Soup: Blue crab and fresh garden vegetables in a rich broth that keeps customers coming back
Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Joanie’s is pure Old Florida magic wrapped in organized chaos.
Postcards from international visitors cover every inch of wall space and wooden ceiling beams, while vintage memorabilia, deer antlers, alligator skulls, and stuffed bass create a museum-like quality that would make Guy Fieri weep with joy.
Plastic bottle art dangles from rafters alongside twinkling Christmas lights, giving the impression that someone passes their spare time crafting with whatever random objects they can find.
The dining room accommodates 124 people across multiple spaces—indoors with ceiling fans providing the only air conditioning, screened porches with bars, and outdoor tables with canal views.
Live musicians play acoustic guitar in corners during afternoon hours, while the “grab your own drink from the cooler” policy adds to the laid-back, help-yourself vibe that makes everyone feel like family. 🎵
Bottom Line
Visit Joanie’s for authentic Everglades culture, fearless gator dishes, Joanie’s legendary personality, live music atmosphere, and the chance to dine in Florida’s oldest Everglades building. This isn’t just a meal—it’s a step back into genuine Old Florida. 🌴
Address: 39395 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL 34141
📞 (239) 695-2682
🕔 Open Sun & Thu-Sat 10:00 AM–5:00 PM, Mon-Tue 10:30 AM–5:00 PM (closed Wed)