We found Joe's ion the way home from Navasota sunflower fields and have now been back twice more in last two months. It's a 45 minute drive for us from Katy but what isn't any more. Our latest visit on the way back from Austin. We have ordered different dishes on each visit and all were very good. Served at appropriate temperatures, seasoned well, nice sized portions. Rolls, good, and butter complimentary. And as we found out olive oil for your rolls is a charge. Otherwise service is good. The noise level has been low on our visits to allow for conversation without being too loud ourselves. The decor is simple but not important for us as long as food is good and reasonably priced. I know we will dine there again. read more

A Special Family Celebration Ruined by Unacceptable Food and Poor Management I came to Joe's Italian Grill in Hempstead, Texas, with my family to celebrate my granddaughter's upcoming wedding. We were a large party, and what should have been a memorable and enjoyable luncheon turned into an extremely disappointing experience. I ordered the Chicken Tirana ($19.99) because I was looking forward to a nice chicken and broccoli dish. Unfortunately, what I received was completely unacceptable. The chicken patties were so hard that I could barely cut through them with a fork. To make matters worse, they were cold--not warm, certainly not hot. The food looked and tasted as though it had been prepared the day before, microwaved, and served to an unsuspecting customer. I cannot say that's what actually happened, but that was certainly the impression it left. I informed our waitress that I was not willing to pay $19.99 for a meal of such poor quality. Let me make something clear, I have absolutely no objection to paying good money for good food. I also believe in tipping generously for good service. But what was placed in front of me was, quite frankly, an insult. I requested to speak with the manager, hoping for some understanding, accountability, or even a simple apology. Instead, his response was, "Did she offer you something else?" That was it. I was absolutely stunned. My complaint wasn't about wanting another dish. It was about why food of such unacceptable quality had been allowed to leave the kitchen in the first place. My response was simple: "What does that have to do with the condition of the chicken I was served? If the kitchen couldn't prepare my original order properly, why would I have any confidence in ordering something else?" What disappointed me just as much as the food was the manager's apparent lack of concern. There was no meaningful acknowledgment of the problem, no explanation, and certainly no reassurance that the restaurant took food quality seriously. Where is the quality control? Who is checking the food before it leaves the kitchen? And why should a customer have to argue about being served cold, nearly inedible chicken? I was so upset that I could feel my blood pressure rising. That is certainly not how I expected to spend what should have been a happy family celebration. I sincerely hope the owner or upper management reads this review, because customer satisfaction begins with quality food and management that genuinely cares when something goes wrong. I am now home, and I am still upset--not simply because of a $19.99 meal, but because a special occasion with my family was overshadowed by an experience that could have been handled so much better. Joe's Italian Grill, you have lost a customer. I realize I am only one person, but dissatisfied customers share their experiences. One becomes two, two become four, and before long, a restaurant's reputation begins to suffer. I didn't come looking for a free meal. I came expecting a good meal, fair value, and professional treatment. Sadly, I received none of those. read more

I definitely recommend giving this place a try if you're in the Waller/Hempstead area. The service is phenomenal and the food is fantastic. It's a very relaxing environment as well. We'll be back. read more

Joe’s Italian Grill - Italian Near Me - Hempstead, Texas

I stopped in here for lunch on my way to Houston. I'd never been here before, so I ordered something safe and got the chicken parmigiana. The tea was fresh. The rolls were as well. I thought they were my favorite part of the meal. They were just dense enough to give off a pan pizza taste, and had enough butter, garlic powder and parmesan cheese on top to get Paula Deen's attention. The salad that came with it was decent. Good thick bleu cheese dressing. Could've used some croutons though. The entree itself was good. The chicken wasn't crazy crispy, but by the time you soak fried chicken in marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese and bake it, you will lose crispness by nature, and that's with any restaurant. The meat wasn't dry, I will say that. Pasta that came with it was good as well. Price seems a little high though, and is my main criticism of this restaurant. $4.25 for a glass of unsweetened tea, and $17.64 for chicken parmesan. I did get the dinner portion, so I can't fault them too highly on that. That being said, the portion size was generous, the staff were friendly, and the ambiance of the restaurant was comfortable. All in all, Joe's is pretty good, and I wouldn't mind coming again. read more

Great food and service. Nice modern place in Hempstead. The food is always great and service is quick.

I had my wedding reception there!!! I have no complaints whatsoever. I have compliments. The server were so amazing we had a party of about 27. The servers were prepared and ready to serve, very attentive and so kind. The food came out in a timely manner and cups did not stay empty for long. They allowed us to decorate however we wanted and were willing to help in anyway with decorating. The ambiance was very cozy and inviting. We were allow to have a DJ. Such an amazing experience and the food was delicious. We had shrimp scampi, chicken Alfredo, shrimp and pizza. Everything was soooooo good. Please come eat here and have your event here!!!! Thank you Joe's Italian Grill for hosting my family and friends!!! We will be back soon read more

Joe’s Italian Grill - Event space area - Italian Near Me - Hempstead, Texas

We just had my mom's surprise birthday party here last Friday. Everything was fantastic!! The manager (Emmon) was so accommodating, from helping us plan to carrying out an amazing party. The food was fantastic, the service was perfect and we could not have asked for a better experience. They definitely went above and beyond. Thanks so much! We truly appreciate it and will definitely be recommending Joe's. read more

The food was amazing. It's refreshing to come to a place and really taste the flavor of your meal. Come hungry, the portion sizes are big! The service was spot on. Being our first time here, we had question of course. Our waiter was very helpful with his suggestions and even let us sample the "pink" sauce to see if we liked it. It was delicious!!! The atmosphere was cozy and comfortable. If you're in the area, don't pass this place up. read more

Everything is delicious, and they do great things for the community. We sat at the bar tonight and the bartender even offered to put my husband's sausage in my box for me. So sweet of her. read more

I strongly advise against dining at this restaurant. This establishment unlawfully imposes a credit card surcharge on its customers, violating Chapter 604A.001 and 604A.002 of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, which prohibits businesses from charging extra fees to customers using credit cards. When I addressed this issue with the manager, he was dismissive and condescending, reflecting a complete lack of customer service. However, he did adjust the charge. Additionally, be cautious--the menu prices do not match the final bill, so I recommend double-checking your total. I urge anyone encountering this issue to file a report with the Texas Attorney General through the consumer complaint process. I have tried to attach the receipts for reference. As far as the food...it was very bland. The noodles were molto al dente. I will not return. read more

Joe’s Italian Grill - Italian Near Me - Hempstead, Texas

Had a chance to stop by today. With such great reviews we were eager to give it a try. The place is clean and has more of a country Texas farmhouse ambience. Our waitress was courteous and efficient. Now for the food... We were disappointed. They nailed their Alfredo sauce and their pastas were cooked to perfection. I wasn't impressed with their chicken. It tasted like the kind that comes in a large bag. The dishes that had melted mozzarella were overcooked, leaving the cheese with a hard texture. This is not so appealing when you talk about a pizza. They could work some more on their pizza recipe or perhaps it was a bad day in the kitchen. Overall, not impressed with their food. Not a place I would choose to visit again. Lots of room for improvement! read more

I ordered the eggplant parm off the lunch menu from the Joes in Hempstead. For $12.99 it came w salad (Balsamic dressing) & 3 homemade rolls. It was really all good & will definitely order again. read more

Joe’s Italian Grill - Eggplant Parm - Italian Near Me - Hempstead, Texas

See all

The food tasted like cardboard, rushed and clearly dout of line. Food tastes like cardboard. Cheese and pepperoni was just added filler, and the entire thing was stale. We picked it up from the restaurant, floor was decent. That's about it for now. read more

it is the best experience ever. ask for maddy alexis mackenzie they're all the best. food is great too. the ambiance of the place is good too. it's really cute. read more

Joe’s Italian Grill - best servers ask for alexis Mackenzie and maddy they are the best - Italian Near Me - Hempstead, Texas

Well this place is truly a diamond in the rough. I didn't have high expectations when my lunch meeting got moved from First Class BBQ to Joe's, but I was pleasantly surprised. I decided to try the lunch special lasagna. The meal started with a friendly server who checked on us just the right amount through the meal. I didn't realize when I ordered but the lunch special came with a nice sized salad. There was also hot fresh rolls on the table. The salad and rolls were solid. The lasagna was delicious. Overall it was a good sized and great tasting meal for about $15. Biggest regret was that I didn't take any photos! read more

Food and service is always pleasing. In addition, the prices are modest and of Value. read more

It's been a while, but Yelp threw this one at me. We have eaten at the Waller location and as I recall, the food was really good. They had a nice selection of wines & the service was great. We would definitely consider going there again. read more

All we ask is don't put American cheese in a Caesar salad. Did you run out of Parmesan? Also, don't put the main dish on top of the pasta!! It looks bad. Keep pasta and main food separate. Don't overload with sauce, we couldn't see the vegetables on our Murphy chicken. read more

We stopped here on our way from Austin to Kemah. Friendly staff, large portions that were delicious. I had the classic chicken Alfredo and hubby had the chicken cacciatore. The rolls were super soft, even the ones we took home and rehearsal in the microwave! We will stop there again! read more

Food is delicious. Had the chicken and shrimp primavera. Ordered takeout. Not a fan of the garlic bread, its boring. First time here. Used online ordering. Excellent great experience. Packaging, price, portions, quality, everything perfect. Thanks. Highlight: cant believe the veggies werent overcooked and the food was hot as hell lol. Thats what you call skill bro. Excellent job to the cook for real. Stay solid. Next day update: wow cant believe how good this food is as im eating leftovers from yesterday lol. Next time im ordering 3 dinners instead of two. Thanks again read more

Joe’s Italian Grill - Italian Near Me - Hempstead, Texas

See all

Their pasta is delicious! I freaking love the chicken parm. They have a huge pizza, also very good. Inside is a beautiful barn/western vibe , super super pretty. I appreciate the staff also, always making sure my drink was full . read more

Whereas the service was excellent I can't say the same about my meal. The lasagna was swimming in grease and the pasta was undercooked. Eating would have been 2 based on food but I added a star for the service. read more

I chose this place for a first date and have been back since because it was really good. The food is fresh, tasty, and well presented. I especially like the fried calamari. The waitstaff is friendly and attentive. It's not the best Italian food I've ever had--not gonna lie--but if you're near Hempstead, it's a great place for a meal. read more

What a cute place and super friendly staff! Tried the chicken parm with angel hair pasta and it was very good. Love that it came with a side salad. I did upcharge to the caesar and did not care for the dressing. I noticed dishes being delivered that were very generous portions so I feel like this could be family style for sure. The menu is full and it's hard to decide. Definitely going to return read more

See all

The main dishes were good! Lots of food, nice flavors. The salads were a bit odd - shredded salad with lots (too much) dressing on top. All in all a good experience and would go back. read more

The staff did a great job accommodating us. We all ended up bringing half our food home which we ate for dinner. The experience was enjoyable and now my daughter and niece have a place to go grab some pasta when they return that way for college! read more

We have been wanting to give Joe's a try ever since they opened. It is about a 30 minute drive from where we live and not in an area we usually are around. It was worth the drive. I had Shrimp Alfredo Fettuccini and my wife had Chicken Marsala. Both were very tasty. Portions were very generous. Garlic rolls were served immediately after we sat down. Our server was very attentive and took very good care of us. The restaurant is very clean and is nicely decorated. We will return to try some of their red sauce options. If you're in the area and looking for some good Italian food, give them a try. read more

The fresh bread here is the best! And the every meal comes with a fresh salad. The serving sizes are huge! You will always have leftovers. The space is really nice and they have a back room for private events. The staff is mostly high schoolers but they know what they're doin! read more

See all

Good food, good service! Reasonably priced. Pleasant environment . We will go back. read more

Nice decor for what could be considered a roadside stop off of Highway 290 near the turnoff to Texas A&M, Joe's Italian Grill had friendly, responsive staff. From a variety of menu choices you'd expect for an Italian restaurant, we chose a Philly cheesesteak and angel hair pasta with meat sauce. Our salads were crisp, with grated mozzarella, and the rolls were hot and fresh--it was hard to keep from overeating them during the short wait until our entrees arrived. The sandwich had perfectly melted cheese over minced beef, onion, green peppers and mushrooms on crusty bread. Meat sauce on a huge pile of pasta was noticeably rich and authentic tasting. It was a pleasure to find this nice eatery. read more

We were on our way to College Station from the Houston area & were looking for a safe place to pick up lunch on our way. Joe's Italian Grill came up on Yelp & had very strong reviews. Their Covid-19 protocols were all in place. Thanks for that! Ordering & paying online was super easy! We had Shrimp Alfredo & Pasta Trio. We loved the flavors of everything! Those rolls were fantastic, too! Why didn't we get dessert? Next time! It was so nice to enjoy a yummy meal on their patio today! Several staff members checked on us and made us feel very welcomed & taken care of. We'll definitely return to try the pizza and calzones. Thank you for a delicious lunch experience! read more

Not because my car got keyed here, but they could not figure out where to seat a solo woman. Chain restaurants smh. First impression was not good.Food marginal but the staff Daniella saved the day.Nothing fancy, dark place in a strip center negative ambience. Will not return. read more

My spaghetti with meat sauce and sausage was great. Love the fresh bread. Our server Ellie was great. I would definitely go back. read more

We had the best Philly cheesesteak pizza it was better than the sandwich. I really think in my 60 yrs it's the best I've ever had . Thank you for never letting us down !!! read more

Just had my first meal at Joe's. The stuffed mushrooms were delicious. Cream sauce on them had a lot of flavor. Very cheesey. Lasagna was excellent. Don't normally do reviews. But they need it. Price is fair, and service is very professional. I'll be going back again next weekend. David read more

One of the best restaurants "on the road". Great service, great food, great prices. We came home with to go boxes read more

First the positives. The service was very good. Friendly, very fast, no issues there at all. And it was a very nice looking, clean restaurant. The food is what gets us to the 1 star. First was the garlic bread. It was very hard rolls of some kind with no butter or garlic or anything that we could tell. Next was the stuffed mushrooms. They were unique, that is for sure. They didn't taste bad, but they were quite different than any I have had before. Not at all what we were expecting. I got the combination plate to try multiple dishes. The lasagna was ok. Bland, but not bad. The fettucine was as flavorless as I think I've ever had. The chicken parm was quite hard, dried out chicken. My daughter got the arrabatia (sp?) pasta. She was hoping for something a bit spicy, but this wasn't it. The noodles looked dried out too. My son got the fettucine. Same issue as on my plate. And my wife got the carbonara. That is her favorite Italian dish, so she was happy to see it on the menu, until it came out. It had "Canadian Bacon" that was more the texture of bologna, black olives, and a cream sauce much like what was on the fettucine alfredo. Let's just say she left pretty hungry. And the prices were crazy high for the quality. For four of us to eat it was well over $100. read more

Food is amazing, minus the alfredo. I can't even describe what it taste like, but it simply isn't alfredo. I got the lasagna & it was super good. I've been at least twice! Service was always good. They're super quick and attentive. Not much for the ambiance, just a regular restaurant. Always really quiet and empty. I can't wait to go back again. read more

Joe’s Italian Grill - lunchtime lasagna - Italian Near Me - Hempstead, Texas

Excellent Food Friendly staff and clean inviting atmosphere A quite restaurant to enjoy your delicious food, dessert and drinks read more

Joe’s Italian Grill - Spaghetti Works - Italian Near Me - Hempstead, Texas

See all

Great food, great prices, and a great staff and service. Would definitely recommend! They have a long and extensive menu. And a plus is it's never too too busy read more