Joe Lee's Seafood Kitchen — Restaurant in Clear Lake Shores

I stopped in after work one Wednesday evening and thought I'd give it a go. I've lived on Marina Bay Drive (note to Joe Lee's webmaster: you see how Marina is spelled?) for over four years and had never tried the place. An older woman was chit-chatting with one of the patrons, while a younger one was behind the counter, thinking much too highly of herself to bother waiting on me, much less even greeting me.

I was finally waited on by the former, and ordered the Seafood Combination, choosing the fried flounder filet with 5 fried butterfly shrimp. The meal came with fries, shrimp cole slaw, and a roll, for $15.99 without a drink.

I sat at a table and watched a re-run Astros game, not knowing the outcome of the game, just that the game had already been played. My order arrived pretty quickly. The shrimp were fairly large, there were a good bunch of fries, and the flounder filet was huge! Unfortunately, it never got much better.

The flounder filet was overcooked; the batter, which appeared to have been made from crackers of some kind, was quite a bit past golden, and very nearly dark brown. The shrimp cole slaw came in a little clear plastic container like the kind you'd see at a fast food mexican food restaurant at the salsa bar...quite small. That turned out to be a relief, since there was some kind of seasoning in the slaw that, well, I'd never tasted in a cole slaw before, and for good reason. It just didn't taste very good.

The shrimp and fries were, however, quite good, and after I'd finished the meal I decided to have a slice of key lime pie for dessert. I went back to the counter to order and pay for that, and after I put the $5 bill in the younger woman's hand, she placed my change on the counter, ignoring my outstretched hand to do so, which I thought was very disrespectful.

The key lime pie was a generous-sized slice, but, unfortunately, tasted only mediocre, at best. I decided to nurse the rest of my beer while watching the rest of the Astros game. Two older men and a woman, ostensibly one of the men's wife, came in and sat at a table next to mine. The nearest man engaged me in pleasant conversation, and after about a minute, I stated I'd hope that the 'Stros had won this game. The woman, who had been complaining how cold she was ("I'm freezing," she'd said at least a couple times, while the rest of the clientele, many in shorts, all appeared to be quite comfortable, as was I), said loudly to me, "The Astros lost, 8 to 9, yeah."

I quickly finished the last two swallows of my beer and beat a retreat for the door, vowing quietly to never return. And I still vow to never do so.

One last note to Joe Lee's webmaster: If you put an 's' at the end of the word 'tourist,' it will mean 'more than one tourist,' in case that's what you meant the two times you used the word in your writeup. I know, those silly english grammar rules...they're terrible,...

Joelee’s: A True Southern Seafood Gem

If you’re looking for a place that serves incredible Southern seafood with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, Joelee’s is it! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with genuine hospitality that makes you feel right at home. No matter the day or time, their customer service is outstanding—friendly, attentive, and always with a smile. That kind of consistency is a reflection of great leadership, and it truly sets Joelee’s apart.

Now, let’s talk about the food—because it’s exactly what Southern seafood should be. Every dish is cooked to perfection, bursting with flavor, and served hot and fresh. Whether you’re craving crispy fried shrimp, perfectly seasoned fish, or a classic seafood platter, Joelee’s delivers every single time. It’s the kind of food that brings people together, and it’s clear they take pride in serving nothing but the best.

Another thing I love about Joelee’s is that it’s a place for everyone. Families with kids, groups of friends, and even solo diners will feel comfortable here. The atmosphere is casual yet inviting, making it the perfect spot for a relaxed meal where you can truly enjoy good food and good company.

It’s rare to find a restaurant that nails both quality food and exceptional service, but Joelee’s does it effortlessly. If you haven’t been yet, do yourself a favor and go—you won’t be disappointed! Highly recommend to anyone looking for an authentic Southern...

Have been here several times and the food is "ok". Called an order in for take-out last week and while ordering gumbo over the phone asked if I could get the rice on the side? The lady on the phone said they can't serve it that way because the rice is made in the gumbo. Fair enough, so I placed an order for one to go serving of seafood gumbo. However, when we got home and opened the gumbo to pour from the rather small styrofoam container into a bowl, much to my surprise the gumbo pours out followed by a large perfectly shaped scoop of white rice! So I guess their objective is to fill most of the $8.00 container of gumbo with rice, and then cover it with gumbo to make it appear as if you have a full bowl of gumbo. I was more bothered by the fact that they weren't truthful about being able to serve it the way I asked than anything else. It was really their loss though, because we would have ordered three bowls but didn't because one of the people in our party is diabetic and the other was doing a low carb dinner. I seriously doubt we'll return, but certainly won't for gumbo. Little Daddy's in League City has far superior gumbo. It's about $6.00 more per bowl, but 2-1/2 to 3 times the product so...