Joe's is a very overrated diner. I get the sentimental value since it's the scene of one of Norman Rockwell's painting, but the service is very sub-par. Food is great and the prices are even greater so I always want to give it another chance, but the blonde waitress is ALWAYS unfriendly and looks miserable every time we go here. Yesterday, we ordered our food and when we didn't get the home fries that the menu said came with the dish and asked for them, she started arguing with us that we had to specifically ask for them because they aren't on the menu with the dish. BUT IT WAS. Also, whatever happened to the customer is always right? I'm not saying I'm always right but it was right there on the menu and she was straight up arguing with us, raising her voice until I just said forget it. I felt disrespected and embarrassed. read more

Right on the corner of Main St in Lee. The original location for the Norman Rockwell painting of the cop talking to the kid at the counter. Deli fare. Limited but present veg options. Friendly staff. Food better than most. An interesting stop. read more

I don't know how this place is even getting 3 and 1/2 stars....stopped in for breakfast and was greeted with "take out right" (which is probably code for we don't serve your kind) was rushed to order and then made to wait to pay the bill until after they dealt with the other customers....everyone seemed to receive a friendly welcome and good bye except for us. The food had a distinct "tin" taste to it and I'm pretty sure my serving of hash had been scraped off the bottom of the pan...threw away the food immediately out of fear someone might have been trying to teach me a lesson for not "staying with my own kind". If this place is your only option your better off going to one of the local gas stations and eating from there. read more

Title: The Cheers of the Berkshires without the liquor! I always view restaurants as the complete package and experience. Joe's Diner is exactly what you would want a diner to be. Food: An amazing array of comfort food choices with the home cooking style. Great simple straightforward food without complex nuances which can throw the allergic or finicky eater into a tantrum. You want a sophisticated meal, go anywhere else and spend a boatload more while waiting for your food 4 times longer and miss the experience of your life. Ambiance: Customers are locals and tourists. Conversations abound from counter to tables. The decorations are period, but what period, I don't know which is part of the charm. You can spend time looking around during the slower periods, but when the place is hoping, it is hoping. If you can't sit down and feel like it is the one place in your life that is your fondest place to eat around your home, you have the wrong karma. Even the customers are considerate in moving along when there is a line out the door since seating is limited. Pricing: CHEAP! Value: GREAT! Service: This is the best part, it is really fast. Food is constantly flying out of the kitchen. The wait staff has been there for a while and if you are lucky, you will get a little sass with your order. If you see this any other way when you are there, you have the wrong attitude. Enjoy and experience with your family as to what a hometown American diner is really all about. Tip: Sunday breakfast special is the best, and the price will amaze you. Another tip - Please consider the fast service and how hard the waitresses are working for you when tipping. Hours: I forgot to look but I think it is around 5:30 am to 9 pm most days, with shorter hours on Sundays. Summary: Joe's Diner is an institution where you can sit in between an unemployed job searcher and a presidential candidate. All pretense is gone here and left at the door. Go there for the food and the experience of being apart of Norman Rockwell's the Runaway & of Main Street America. read more

On typical, brisk Sunday morning while in the midst of a hangover, I ventured into Joe's Diner. My needs were very simple, a hangover breakfast to cure everything from the migraine to the hollow stomach devoid of any real sustenance . Here's how my experience went down. Me, to the considerably older server at the counter : "May i have a bacon and egg bagel please" The server with a snarly response looking at me over the rims of her reading glasses " YOU MEAN EGG AND BACON!!!" I took a deep breath and politely repeated " May I have a bacon and egg bagel please " Server, with a much more snappier response and with a hint of teeth much like a ferocious dog about to bite "YOU MEAN EGG AND BACON!!!" Once again i paused, took a deep breath to allow my brain to put aside its mental shortcomings from alcohol and lack of sleep. I cheerfully replied with a hint of brevity " I would like those two ingredients in my bagel in whatever order they appear" After reluctantly taking my order I looked around to the rest of the patrons noticed a shade of disbelief on their faces as to the episode that occurred. "Don't mind her, shes always like that" yelled a friendly voice from a gentleman in the table behind. Bring your A-Game and thick skin to Joe's Diner to survive a unique dining experience. read more

I used to like this diner a real lot and rated it highly but recently the service has just gone downhill and they give preferential treatment to known regulars. On a recent visit the waitress walked past our table and took the order of some regulars that came in after us and sat behind us. I say they were regulars because they all called each other by name. They were served their food before our order was even taken. The "waffles" I ordered ended up being a single small to medium sized single Belgian Waffle that had the consistency of rubber. read more

I so wanted to like this place. I love little mom and pop diners. Their usually full of character, friendly servers and great food. And this place definitely has character and the servers were friendly and helpful. However, the food was an incredible disappointment. I ordered the juicy Lucy, a hamburger with the cheese and bacon cooked inside the burger. The fries reminded me of the microwave fries I had as a kid. Floppy, void of flavor and always a little frost bitten. The meat of the burger was fine. However, there was very little cheese and either they forgot the bacon or might as well have because I never tasted it. I hope my experience is the exception and NOT the rule. Maybe their breakfasts read more

Joe's Diner has been around since the 1950's and it feels like it. You can feel the nostalgia as soon as you walk in. From the stools to the 50's Doo Wop playing while you enjoy your meal. They make you long for a simpler time. This was my first time here. I could tell it was a local favorite because the employees knew everyone's name. I ordered a regular breakfast. Eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast. Everything was pretty normal. The hash browns had seasoning on them and were delicious. Service was good and fast. These folks have been in business for a long time and it shows. The only thing I found odd was they didn't accept credit cards. read more

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On a fall foray to the Berkshires, after a two hour drive across the Commonwealth on the Turnpike, Lee was our first stop. We were hungry and the guide we had mentioned Joe's. We stopped and left with a split decision. I loved it, my partner did not. It is a lunch counter more than a diner but certainly carries on the spirit of a diner. The prices are rock bottom cheap, especially for a place like the Berkshires. The food is simple but good. I had an eggplant parmigiana grinder.....very good. Their coffee was good, too. My partner had a grilled ham and cheese cheese sandwich. Also very simple and not to his liking. In the more populated areas of the nation, places like Joe's feel like they are are the endangered species list. It is wonderful to go, share, and enjoy a slice of small town life. read more

Love this place! It's like stepping back in time and enjoying simple food with down to earth locals. Great hamburger and excellent service. Worth taking a roadtrip for! read more

I live in Lenox, next town over, in the summer and go to this place a few times a year. It is a classic must eat. They have everything all the time. Service is fast and friendly/surly. Ask about the specials. Norman Rockwell ate here and painted the cop and the little runaway kid sitting at the counter. http://www.artchive.com/artchive/r/rockwell/rockwell_runaway.jpg read more

Joe's Diner - hankering to sit at this counter? - American Near Me - Lee, Massachusetts

This is a what you see is what you get diner; decent, simple food for a good price. We had an omelette, scrambled eggs and potatoes, and an enormous blueberry pancake. Pros: the service was good, the eggs nicely cooked, the pancake was full of blueberries, real Cabot butter to be had Cons: the toast was burnt and the potatoes were flavored weirdly Child-friendly? Yes- coloring books and crayons, high chair availability Ambience: well- worn and divey, and small. As an interesting aside, it's the diner pictured in that famous Norman Rockwell painting where the policeman is looking down at a small boy, and they are both seated on stools at a counter. read more

Eating at Joe's Diner is like having breakfast with the family. That's the kind of place this is, warm, welcoming, and comforting. Found my new breakfast joint in Lee ;-) read more

We accidentally came upon this restaurant while on vacation. We really enjoyed this quaint, nostalgic diner. The service was very friendly and the food and prices were very good. I especially enjoyed my milkshake. I will definitely be coming back again when I am in the area. Make sure you try the specials on the board. read more

A rude, rude, older, older blonde lady works there! Cash ONLY, wth! In this day of CC! Oh but they have an ATM that charges you money to get cash to pay for your bill! Service SUCKS but food is good. breakfast is not a hard meal to cook so it's only gets 1 star!! read more

Old hometown diner. Place where Norman Rockwell sketched some of his infamous sketches. Very friendly atmosphere. Food is well prepared and very traditional. Waitresses Shelli and Margaret are wonderful. They both add a tremendous amount to the ambience of the place. The prices are reasonable. Joe's Diner is a true GEM in the center of Lee. read more

Good local stop for breakfast, with a friendly wait staff - and a bright, clean restroom! We imagine NPR reporters here, taking the pulse of western Mass. read more

First time at this place, I really like the service. Friendly, fast and good food. Definitely come again for breakfast.

I HATE Joe's Diner. Its dirty, the waitresses are either slow or rude, the food is super subpar. I keep going there once or twice a year thinking SOMETHING about it will have changed. Nope. It needs to die. read more

For eons, Joe's Diner has sold a souvenir T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan "We make friends, not money." One could almost believe that given how reasonably the food is priced there. But it gave my college buddy from Lee, who'd introduced me to the place way back when, a big laugh. "Don't let 'em kid you, Joe's a millionaire." Joe has long since sold the place, but he's still around and in fact stopped in while I was there for lunch recently. The main thing that's changed about Joe's over several decades is that they're no longer open straight through from 5 AM on Monday to late on Saturday. Other than that it's exactly the same as when it was when I first parked at their counter in the '80s. You go in expecting good, cheap greasy-spoon food. That's exactly what you get. And in an era where towns and city neighborhoods are full of strangers it's a welcome change of pace to be in a restaurant where a man enters and the kid waiting to bus a table says, "Hi, Coach!" My waitress last time was surly enough to be Homer Simpson's sister. But the other "gals" behind the counter, as well as the kitchen guys and the other customers, more than made up for that. Anybody who pulls off the turnpike to grab eats at the McDonald's drive-thru and get right back on the road is missing out big time. read more

Where else can you get a solid breakfast for about $6 a person? This place is a local gem. The decor is basic- there are no frills here. Locals come in and shoot the breeze on the bar stools over coffee and the paper. Pancakes are delicious. read more

My husband and I went for breakfast and it was gross. It is so dirty. The fork was dirty and the plates were all chipped. I ordered sausage and they were microwaved brown and serve. read more

To be fair, we didn't eat here. We went out after the big winter storm looking for breakfast. Mom wasn't impressed by the outside but we decided to go inside to see what it looked like. We walked in, took a look and a smell and walked out. Very small, weird smell. We ended up going to Spoon instead which was only about 10 mins away. Loved that place. read more

Went to Joe's Diner this morning. Food was just okay. Price wasn't bad for what we ate. However it seems the restaurant is changing hands over the new year, the news of which was constantly talked about during our meal. Our waitress was good. The bacon was crispy as requested, but otherwise lacked flavor. The corned beef hash was dry. The pancakes were tasty, the blueberry muffin didn't taste as good as it looked. read more

Okay, Gil, here is the review you sought. Joe's rep remain well deserved. Pricing is antediluvian; perhaps it is owned by a non profit org. Food is better than you'd think. And the ambiance remains echt, as real as it can be. Lots of hustle and bustle from the female servers, all adding to the purity of the diner experience. Let's hope Joe's remains unchanged forever or at least as long as I'm able to drive there. read more

I've been going to Joe's Diner for probably 10 years, and I've yet to be disappointed. The weekend hours leave a little more to be desired but over all, an incredible place. The same waitresses have been waiting on me for years, and they're all charming in their own way. Foods consistent,coffee is good and the prices are killer. Can't go wrong. read more

Good breakfast place. But the place is a bit dirty and could use a re-do. Quirky staff and a favorite of locals who are immune to the dirt.

Good ol' fashioned American greasy spoon, just like I grew up eating at. "Diner" is a bit grandiose, as the menu is far from the endless offerings at a true diner, but for my standard breakfast of scrambled eggs, rye toast, and bacon with a cup of coffee, this was right on the money. Quaint counter, though the decor has sadly lost some of its likely former glory and seems a bit bland now. You certainly won't lack for renditions of Rockwell's painting; they are downright shameless with that picture! read more

You should go here once since its a historical site, kind of. What with the whole Norman Rockwell painting history. Probably only once though. I mean the food isn't terrible but it isn't great either. Service is pretty terrible. The waitress lady was a major grump. So anyway, go there once. read more

We visited Joe's Diner on May 4th 5th 2014. The place was nice and they do their best to keep it up. Seating is comfortable and clean. Norman Rockwell's painting "The Runaway" was done there. Food quality was excellent and kind of like home made. Prices are very affordable, for instance: Cheeseburger $2.75, great onion rings $3.00, Hot dog $2.50. Service was good and friendly, considering that we had never been there before. We felt welcome. Try this place for an affordable, enjoyable eating experience at a truly local establishment. Please leave the big city attitudes behind and you will have a nice memory to take with you. read more

Good food and dirt cheap prices. $10.50 for a filling breakfast for 3 people. Sunday special (3x eggs, bacon, sausage with potatoes and toast) for $3.33 is a downright steal and sausage is very good. read more

Classic diner, a place that will take you back to a time(before I was around) when customers were practically family. Nice little town.

All around bad experience. Unpleasant server, my omelet wasn't hot enough to melt the cheese in it, jalapeños are on the menu but I couldn't get any with my meal. Server was nothing special; not rude but not very pleasant either. Wouldn't come again. read more

My favorite breakfast counter in the Berkshire's. The Rockwell connection just makes it cooler...

Let me cut to the chase: a greasy spoon with character. Food is survivable, portions good, survice ranges from good to just awful. The place is known primarily for its interesting history. No problem there, but you can't eat history. read more

Ok, why is there no review of Joe's Diner???? By all accounts, this place is a beloved historic landmark, continuously and lovingly providing a kitchen away from home for a town full of devoted regular customers ever since it was opened by Joe Sorrentino in 1939. It seems to've changed owners at least a couple of times since then, but according to the Lee, Mass chamber of commerce website, Joe's is still in business. So where are the reviews? Well, if there still isn't a review by next summer, I will write one myself. Every summer, Rob and I make a road trip from Columbus to Boston and camp our way through New England. We've never stopped in Lee, but after I read Mark Singer's article about Joe's in an archived issue of the New Yorker (2001), I am dying to go to this Diner of Diners. (Can you tell the election's over? Obviously there's nothing exciting in the Huffington Post this evening.) Actually, I'm almost sure I'll be disappointed. The daily specials can't possibly be the same or as good as they were when Joe owned the diner and cooked the meals himself, and I bet someone's remodeled the inside and replaced the checkered linoleum floor. But I still want to go there, because it inspired Norman Rockwell to paint a Saturday Evening Post cover in 1958, and it sounds like a throwback to that simpler, more trusting America that we all wish sometimes we could revisit. read more

This place we have been coming for years. Not always the friendliest staff but as they got to know us they became friendly. But the food and price is what always brings us back. Long wait sometimes so be prepared. read more

This is a diner. It has standard diner fare at standard diner prices, and the waitress was nice, not overly friendly but not rude, with a little sass. I'm glad we stopped in for breakfast, even if it was a little greasy. It was still good, filling, and they'll give you all the coffee you want. Parking is on the street, but at the time we were there (early May) there were plenty of spaces. I especially liked the bar with the colorful stools, though we opted to sit at one of the tables. Definitely what I think of when I think of a classic American diner. It's also pretty cool that this is the place on which Norman Rockwell based his painting "The Runaway." read more

Everyone was very friendly, patrons included, great community feel in there. It's definitely seems like a staple in this town. Food was good, as long as you are expecting greasy-diner style. No frills, but we loved it. read more

EXCELLENT hometown place to eat. Very small inside, but it is exactly what you would imagine a small town diner to be. The waitresses knew everyone and were so nice. We would have eaten there every morning if we were there longer. I would definitely say give this a try if you like to eat where the locals eat. The food and price were worth it. read more