After my first visit to Joe's in Chicago, I was hooked, yet also saddened that there was no Manhattan location. So, imagine my pleasant surprise when I saw the Las Vegas destination listed on OpenTable. I made a note of this exciting fact and convinced my friend to try it during our trip to the crazy city.
The lunch hour brought a substantial crowd to the outpost at Casear's Palace, and we had to wait quite a while only to grab two stools at the packed bar. Our busy and bland waitress/bartender did little to speed up our dining adventure. We dug through our varied bread basket, each new roll or flat bread an exciting discovery.
We each ordered the Seafood Chopped Salad, the dish that Joe's had won me over with. The large bowl of mixed greens was topped with slices of hard-boiled egg, cubes of cheese, and various fresh vegetables. Large succulent shrimp, flavorful lobster claw meat, and chunky Alaskan King Crab were scattered throughout the plate. The shellfish tasted fresh from the sea, perfectly crisp and tender. In terms of dressing, I had requested the Joe's Vinaigrette on the side, but was told that it usually comes with the creamy Italian instead. However, the waitress offered to bring me a cup of each, which I was so thankful for. The house dressing was more like an oily, garlicky salsa with chunks of ripe tomato. The Italian vinaigrette was also delicious, with a light-bodied seasoning. Since the Joe's version contained vegetable pieces, you could basically spice up your salad with drizzles of each. This fresh meal was what health food dreams are made of, and the bread basket alone is reason enough to dine here.
Joe's is a fantastic chain seafood house that far surpasses expectations. For all of its touristy, casual dining attributes, it will blow you away with its high-quality ingredients and traditional preparations.