Joe’s Crab Shack Served Alcohol To Kids, Including One 2-Year-Old

Joe’s Crab Shack may not be the place you want to take your kids to for that next birthday party or family visit, as one Colorado Springs family found out last week.

The Montoya family brought several kids ranging in ages from 2- to 8-years-old for a night of celebration. The restaurant was a favorite for one of the visiting aunts, so Trista and Omar Montoya figured what’s the harm.

And that’s when the kids ordered a Shark Nibble from the Kids Menu. When the wait staff brought out the drinks, the children complained that their beverages “tasted funny.”

A waitress reportedly came to the table shortly after delivery and reclaimed the drinks, saying they were made with “the wrong ingredients.”

That turned out to be a massive understatement, reports KKTV.

“Then the managers actually came back with the tray of drinks and then let us know that they had accidentally poured alcohol into our kids’ beverages,” said Omar.

At that point, the Montoyas were “frightened” as their 2-year-old niece had already finished her drink.

Joe’s Crab Shack isn’t sure at this point how the drinks were made with alcohol, but Omar would like some answers.

“You order these drinks, and you order them off the kids menu with the intent that you’re providing your child with something safe and that the restaurant is doing their job,” he said.

One of the children did end up stating that “she didn’t feel well” — no word on if it was the 2-year-old — and at that point management called the paramedics as a precaution, but all of the children ultimately made it through the experience okay.

“I hope that other parents are cognizant of that and take that into consideration when they are ordering these drinks… what is in each and every one of these drinks,” said Trista.

The official Joe’s Crab Shack statement was also issued shortly thereafter.

“Joe’s Crab Shack is aware of this incident at the Colorado Springs Location, and we are investigating this matter internally. We do not condone underage service of any kind. Our guests can rest assured that our processes are continuously examined so that incidents like this are avoided.”

What do you think about the Joe’s Crab Shack mishap readers? Was this just an accident or did someone intentionally spike the children’s drinks? And as a parent, how would you handle a situation like this?