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Sun-sational San Diego
Family Fun on the Run
By Kendeyl Johansen
Joe's Crab Shack
Joe's Mardi Gras atmosphere, where servers dance every half-hour to toe tappin' music, is a sure kid-pleaser. Joe's Official Rug Rat menu offers a tempting variety of choices from popcorn shrimp to pizza and macaroni and cheese, and the young servers are playful with kids. Our server encouraged each of my boys to order for himself – a feat not for the fainthearted.
Our food took a while, but every table was packed, and my kids were mesmerized by the music and whimsical fishing-shack d袯r. Avoid weekend crowds by hitting the restaurant just before or after peak lunch and dinner hours. Of course, you have to try the crab, crab and more crab. We ate every bite of our Cluster Fest – Dungeness and Snow Crab (choose from BBQ, garlic and steamed) – and licked our fingers. Joe's Crab Shack is located at 7610 Hazard Center Dr., San Diego. Call 619-260-1111.
Other kid-pleasing eats include Chevy's Fresh Mex Mexican Restaurant (Mission Valley), The Old Spaghetti Factory (Downtown) and the Hard Rock Cafe (Gas Lamp Quarter).
My family left San Diego exhausted but smiling. And my boys can't wait to return. Two months after our vacation my twins pipe daily, "Go see Legoland! Go see beach!" I don't blame them – I'm also impatient to create new family memories in San Diego next year. And the next.