When last we visited Anna Maria Island, we were at Bradenton Beach and found Joe’s Eats & Sweets. It’s an absolute destination location and Joe’s is as much fun on the inside as it is on the outside.

They are quick to tell you at Joe’s they make all their ice cream on site. Moreover, all of their flavors are made with the best ingredients. “From the cream to the cherries” they want their creations to be the best for their customers. For instance, the strawberry ice cream is made with strawberries, just as banana ice cream is made with bananas.

After an exhaustive taste testing, we can report their statements are accurate.

Joe’s Eats & Sweets is difficult to miss.

Joe’s Sweets

Of course, you can get traditional chocolate and vanilla ice cream. But we also spotted more exotic flavors such as Key Lime Cheesecake, Cotton Candy & Nerds and even Funfetti Cake Batter. In all, we counted nearly 40 different flavors from which to choose.

And that was just the ice cream.

But wait! There’s more! Joe’s has Banana Splits, Sundaes and Floats. There’s also the Raspberry Truffle. That’s Joe’s chocolate ice cream covered with raspberry puree, real whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, with a cherry on top.

For you morning beach people, Joe has the Coffee Lover’s Dream. That’s coffee ice cream topped with coffee syrup, real whipped cream, and – naturally – topped with a cherry. That’ll wake you up!

Other Treats

There are other great edibles as well. We saw Rice Krispy Treats, Fudge, Pretzel Sticks and were introduced to Conewiches.

Yes, the Conewich is another of Joe’s creations. It starts with a homemade waffle cone, then it’s stuffed with a variety of different ingredients.

One features chicken nuggets, lettuce and tomato topped with a Queso sauce. If you prefer something different, you can build your own. Joe’s has a choice of meats including roast beef, turkey, ham and roasted chicken. Their sauce options include Ranch dressing, Honey Mustard, BBQ, Ketchup and/or Mayo.

For those who want to live on the edge, we were offered a Conewich featuring Chicken Nuggets in a nest of Mac & Cheese. We figured we’d do that next time.

Dining Options

One nice thing about Joe’s Eats & Treats, you can eat inside or out. There’s a spacious dining room that overlooks Gulf Drive. You can even get a glimpse of the beach, and occasionally see a boat or a jet ski cruise by while you enjoy lunch or dinner in the air conditioning.

The dining area at Joe’s is spacious, comfortable and bright.

We ate inside and had a wonderful time. But if you’re an outdoors type, Joe’s has an outdoor upper deck, and a ground level seating area where you can enjoy the great Florida weather and some of Joe’s tasty treats.

One of the things we liked best is that there’s a covered parking area underneath the restaurant. You can park there while you eat. It shields your vehicle from the weather and is within easy distance should you choose to eat in the lower dining area.

The underneath parking area at Joe’s is cool – in more ways than one.

And before you ask, we’ll tell you. Yes, they have sugar free, lactose free, gluten free or fat free if you need it. They have yogurt and Joe’s also offers a Lunch Menu served all day with sandwich choices & Nachos.

Joe’s has been doing business on Anna Maria Island for nearly three decades now. And even though they have lots of experience, it appears they’re always trying something new. When the hungries hit on AMI, Eat At Joe’s – it’s a great option.