Original Joe's
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Visited Original Joes on a Saturday for brunch, i made a reservation online so it was faster seating. However it looked like it wasn't as busy then it would be for dinner so if you're trying to avoid the crowds lunch would be a better option. My family and i ordered truffle fries to share and we ordered some drinks from the bar and the watermelon spritzs was very refreshing i definitely recommend! I ordered the marry me farfalle pasta and it was pretty good. My partner ordered the joes famous burger sandwich and he said it was just okay. I honestly think the pasta here is always a hit. My father in law ordered the branzino and he said it was super delicious! So i def recommend coming to original joes!
WOW. Great ambiance. Can eat at the bar which doesn't need reservations. Crab cake is a need. Meatballs is a must. Dessert is an always.
The food was pretty decent and came out in a timely manner, but the service could've been better since we had to wait a while for someone to come back to our table. Overall, I think the restaurant is a bit overhyped, but it's worth checking out if you're in the area! 6/10 on the food.
I was able to snag a res for three at 11:30am during Outside Lands on Saturday, which I was honestly surprised about! I'm guessing it was a last-minute cancellation, but I was so happy because I really wanted to bring my friends who were visiting for the festival to Original Joe's. It's such a SF staple, and North Beach is also such a fun area to walk around before or after your meal. We were seated right away even though we were about 15 minutes late. Their policy is 10 minutes, but our hostess was super nice about it since I had arrived early and was waiting for my friends. We started with a couple of espresso martinis, which are seriously SO good and definitely a must-order here. For food, we did everything family-style and got the Caesar salad, chicken parmigiana, spicy rigatoni, fries, and arancini. This ended up being the perfect amount for three people because we were stuffed by the end. Everything was really good, and you know it's a great meal when you keep going back and forth about what to eat next because you want another bite of everything. Our server was also super attentive, and I love the classic, old-school vibe inside. If you're visiting SF, definitely try to get a table here!
Went here for a family dinner to celebrate a graduation, birthday, and anniversary. Even though we had a reservation, we still waited about 30 minutes because the restaurant was extremely busy. Once seated, the service was excellent, our server was attentive, friendly, and made us feel well taken care of throughout the evening. The restaurant has a lively atmosphere, but it is very loud and quite dark, making it difficult to read the menu and fully appreciate the presentation of the dishes. We started with the spinach dip and calamari. Both were good, but nothing particularly memorable. For our entrées, we ordered Joe's House-Made Ravioli, charbroiled salmon, spicy rigatoni, and veal saltimbocca. The ravioli was flavorful, but the standout dish was definitely the veal, it was a perfect 10/10 and my son absolutely loved it. To top off the evening, the staff surprised us with a complimentary dessert decorated with three candles to celebrate our special occasions. It was such a thoughtful, personal touch that made the night even more memorable. Overall, despite the wait and the noisy, dimly lit dining room, we had a wonderful experience thanks to the warm hospitality, delicious food, and exceptional service.
Appetizers are amazing and the drinks were well done. The main course was bigger than we anticipated but worth it. The side raviolis ordered weren't anything amazing. The pasta itself was good but the sauce tasted mass produced or familiar. Worth it for every aspect of price and ambiance. Friendly, fast and huge portions for what you pay.
FOOD, SERVICE & ZANZE's!!! 4.3 Stepping into Original Joe's feels like taking a trip back in time. From the vintage-style lettering and rich dark wood interior to the iconic burgundy vinyl booths and crisp white linens, every detail reminds you that you're dining at a true San Francisco classic. Original Joe's first opened in 1937 in the Tenderloin. After a devastating fire forced the restaurant to close in 2007, it triumphantly reopened at its current location in 2012. Nestled between North Beach and Telegraph Hill, the restaurant sits in the middle of a lively neighborhood where people gather on street corners singing and dancing while delivery mopeds line up waiting for their next food pickup. The entire area has a vibrant energy yet still feels welcoming and safe. Although I was tempted by several of the brunch offerings, I ultimately ordered Joe's Famous Hamburger Sandwich. At the time, I didn't realize it was one of the restaurant's signature dishes. What won me over was the use of Boudin sourdough bread instead of a traditional hamburger bun. With several cheese options available, I chose Monterey Jack and requested my burger be charbroiled to a perfect medium-rare. It arrived with a generous serving of thin, crispy fries. It was absolutely delicious. The sandwich was so large that I could only finish half. For dessert, we ordered Zanze's Cheesecake. Over a decade ago, my husband and I used to buy Zanze's cheesecakes directly from their bakery on Ocean Avenue. Although the original shop has since closed, we were delighted to learn that Zanze sold both the name and the recipe to Original Joe's, preserving this beloved San Francisco dessert. The crustless cheesecake is wonderfully light and airy, like a soufflé, surrounded by fresh fruit and finished with a generous dollop of whipped cream. To complete our meal, we shared an Irish Coffee. Original Joe's uses the same Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey as another famous San Francisco institution, resulting in an exceptionally smooth drink that provided the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. Lastly, a special thank you to our server, Nail (pronounced "Neil"), who was outstanding. He had only been with the restaurant for two weeks, and we were among his first guests after completing training. Beyond being attentive and thoughtfully answering all of our questions, he has a genuinely warm spirit and one of those rare personalities that instantly makes people feel welcome and happy.
OJ's provided my group of 6 with a nice dinner experience on a Saturday night. I had been to other locations before and absolutely loved it and finally was able to secure a reservation at the SF spot. However, it was definitely my least favorite location. I found it to be really loud inside and could barely hear the server and others in my group. The overall service was great! Kinda waited and very attentive. Some of our cocktails did take a while to receive after order them, but the food came out fast and fresh! Everything we got was delicious. I will warn, that the spicy rigatoni was almost TOO spicy. It was good but if you cannot handle serious heat, do not order! Overall, great experience. Would come back again!
We had dinner here on our first real night in San Francisco and it was such a great way to start our trip! Everyone was really nice. When I asked for a table for 11, the host made sure I understood that the wait would be close to two hours before putting our name down, which I appreciated. We were eventually seated and were definitely ready to eat by then! We started with the calamari, which was YUM and a huge portion, perfect for sharing with a big group. My husband and I shared the Marry Me Farfalle with prawns and the Red Wine Braised Short Rib, and both were absolutely delicious. I was impressed by how generous they were with the prawns in the pasta. We were seated outside and while the inside looked a little nicer and much more lively, I was actually kind of glad we ended up outside because it can get LOUD in there! Overall, delicious food, friendly service, and a great first dinner in San Francisco. I'd definitely come back!
Add another star and that goes to the server Guillermo and Ernesto runner. The place is beautiful no doubt and has been here since 1937. It is pillar of this community. We had no idea its a must while visiting San Francisco. Yes its a must. The pasta and sauce was outstanding the veal was stupendous and another must is that butter cake. I did have thier prim rib its above good but if an Italian restaurant i should have gotten my ol stand by Lasagna....boohoo Lol Well if im around again I will follow my heart and go to Lasagna its little brother Ravioli was great and I had a small taste i believe the Lasagna is another must Gracias from Las Vegas. Guillermo never change brother awesome time and service with you
Had a great experience at Original Joe's North Beach, Chris Murphy is an excellent bar manager and you can tell he really takes pride in what he does, answered all my questions and had great recommendations. He's friendly, professional, and makes everyone feel welcome. Definitely will be returning for the food and drinks.
FOOD: 4 SERVICE: 4 AMBIANCE: 4 VALUE: 4 We came here for a Sunday brunch. Though we ended up having sandwiches. I had the Prime Rib dip. It was a good serving of sliced prime rib served on a French roll with creamy horseradish and Au Jus. The sandwich also came with a side of fries. The prime rib slices were tender and flavorful, which made the French dip just perfect. Nothing beats a side of crispy fries. The Zanze cheesecake brought back memories. Many years ago, I used to buy cheesecake from Zanze's store in the outer Sunset area. I can't really remember how the original cheesecake tasted, but I was told that Joe got the rights to the recipe and the cheesecake is made in house. It was a good, light and fluffy cheesecake. Service was attentive and friendly. My water glass was consistently refilled and was never empty. The decor was traditional and full of history. You feel like you've entered somewhere warm and welcoming as soon as you step in. Even though it was our first time here, it felt like we were regulars. We will come back and try this location for dinner.
I visited for a team dinner on a weekday evening, and even then the restaurant was packed - a good sign of how popular it is. Despite the crowd, the service was outstanding from start to finish. A special shoutout to Georgette, who went above and beyond to make sure the vegetarian members of our group had plenty of great options and felt well taken care of. The food was exceptional. I ordered the eggplant parmigiana along with a wine pairing recommended by one of the servers, and it turned out to be one of the best parmigiana I've ever had. The flavors were rich, perfectly balanced, and paired beautifully with the wine. Desserts were amazing too. The ambience is equally memorable, with a warm, inviting atmosphere that's perfect for both special occasions and group dinners. Be sure to take a moment to admire the artwork displayed throughout the restaurant, it adds a unique charm to the entire dining experience. I'll definitely be back!
Came here with a large party for a bday where we had the side room booked. Very spacious with a group of 20+ still! We had a set menu due to the large party but everything was amazing. The artichoke dip was nice and rich and had large chunks of artichoke, and calamari rings were super crispy, both 5/5. Main course I got the steak which came cooked perfectly. Nice medium rare and tender, barely needed knife work. Also got to try a friends chicken parm and that was really good too. Don't forget to order the espresso martinis, they make it really well! We ordered 27 of them lol read more
TLDR: Super lively spot for dinner in the heart of North Beach. Portions are large and everything is great to share. Awesome spot for big groups and comfort food. Decor is more old school and it can get loud, so be prepared to shout over dinner. ------ FOOD 1. VEAL PARMIGIANA (4/5) Tender veal with a light breading that paired very well with the cheese and tomato sauce. Large portion that was easy to cut and share. Wish the edges were a tad crispier. Appreciated that it came with a side (we chose the ravioli). Wasn't life changing, but it was solid. 2. SPICY VODKA RIGATONI (4/5) Pasta was perfectly al dente. They poured a very healthy amount of sauce on the rigatoni such that the pasta was well coated and there were small pools of sauce in each piece of pasta. Sauce has a pretty strong kick to it. It's not overwhelming, but I think it was enough for me to only have a few pieces before I called it a night. 3. TRUFFLE FRIES (4/5) For the most part these are excellent. It's a mountain of very thin, crispy fries (what McDonald's dreams it could be). The truffle flavor is very prominent, and the two different sauces this comes with are excellent (one is a traditional mayo and the other was slightly sweet). However, some of those fries were so salty as to be inedible. Remember to drink lots of water. 4. BREAD SERVICE (3.5/5) Of course, hard to hate on a free bread service. They came out with a big basket of thick sourdough bread slices and a small butter keeper. Since the bread was room temp, it wasn't very special and it was tough to pull apart. But the flavor was there, and the softened butter was appreciated, despite the small butter portion relative to our bread portion. 5. JOE'S RAVIOLI (2.5/5) Unfortunately the only big let down of the night. The ravioli had so little filling that I actually could barely taste it even though I could see it. The outer layer of pasta was relatively thick too, so it overpowered what little filling there was. The ravioli also stuck to each other, so I ended up just biting through multiple pieces of ravioli at a time and scoping up tomato sauce from the container so that I could add flavor to the taste of the pasta dough. Large portion though! ------ ENVIRONMENT / AMBIANCE * Old-school decor featuring red leather booths, ornate wooden banisters, and lots of separate rooms throughout the restaurant. Lots of tables and always packed * Darker ambient mood lighting. Definitely more casual feeling than their sister Little Original Joe's location in the Marina * The restaurant is in the heart of North Beach right next to Washington Square Park, Tony's Pizza, and Flour + Water Pizzaria ------ SERVICE * You really need a reservation to dine here. You could probably walk in and get a seat by the kitchen in the back, but it's super crowded back there, waiters and customers are constantly weaving back and forth behind you, and it's overall not nearly as nice as sitting at a table (not always the case at restaurants!) * Our waiter was fine. He did the trick but wasn't particularly warm or helpful. Was attentive with filling our waters throughout the night read more
1 day ago
Visited Original Joes on a Saturday for brunch, i made a reservation online so it was faster seating. However it looked like it wasn't as busy then it would be for dinner so if you're trying to avoid the crowds lunch would be a better option. My family and i ordered truffle fries to share and we ordered some drinks from the bar and the watermelon spritzs was very refreshing i definitely recommend! I ordered the marry me farfalle pasta and it was pretty good. My partner ordered the joes famous burger sandwich and he said it was just okay. I honestly think the pasta here is always a hit. My father in law ordered the branzino and he said it was super delicious! So i def recommend coming to original joes! read more
2 days ago
The food was pretty decent and came out in a timely manner, but the service could've been better since we had to wait a while for someone to come back to our table. Overall, I think the restaurant is a bit overhyped, but it's worth checking out if you're in the area! 6/10 on the food. read more
I was able to snag a res for three at 11:30am during Outside Lands on Saturday, which I was honestly surprised about! I'm guessing it was a last-minute cancellation, but I was so happy because I really wanted to bring my friends who were visiting for the festival to Original Joe's. It's such a SF staple, and North Beach is also such a fun area to walk around before or after your meal. We were seated right away even though we were about 15 minutes late. Their policy is 10 minutes, but our hostess was super nice about it since I had arrived early and was waiting for my friends. We started with a couple of espresso martinis, which are seriously SO good and definitely a must-order here. For food, we did everything family-style and got the Caesar salad, chicken parmigiana, spicy rigatoni, fries, and arancini. This ended up being the perfect amount for three people because we were stuffed by the end. Everything was really good, and you know it's a great meal when you keep going back and forth about what to eat next because you want another bite of everything. Our server was also super attentive, and I love the classic, old-school vibe inside. If you're visiting SF, definitely try to get a table here! read more
Went here for a family dinner to celebrate a graduation, birthday, and anniversary. Even though we had a reservation, we still waited about 30 minutes because the restaurant was extremely busy. Once seated, the service was excellent, our server was attentive, friendly, and made us feel well taken care of throughout the evening. The restaurant has a lively atmosphere, but it is very loud and quite dark, making it difficult to read the menu and fully appreciate the presentation of the dishes. We started with the spinach dip and calamari. Both were good, but nothing particularly memorable. For our entrées, we ordered Joe's House-Made Ravioli, charbroiled salmon, spicy rigatoni, and veal saltimbocca. The ravioli was flavorful, but the standout dish was definitely the veal, it was a perfect 10/10 and my son absolutely loved it. To top off the evening, the staff surprised us with a complimentary dessert decorated with three candles to celebrate our special occasions. It was such a thoughtful, personal touch that made the night even more memorable. Overall, despite the wait and the noisy, dimly lit dining room, we had a wonderful experience thanks to the warm hospitality, delicious food, and exceptional service. read more
Appetizers are amazing and the drinks were well done. The main course was bigger than we anticipated but worth it. The side raviolis ordered weren't anything amazing. The pasta itself was good but the sauce tasted mass produced or familiar. Worth it for every aspect of price and ambiance. Friendly, fast and huge portions for what you pay. read more
FOOD, SERVICE & ZANZE's!!! 4.3 Stepping into Original Joe's feels like taking a trip back in time. From the vintage-style lettering and rich dark wood interior to the iconic burgundy vinyl booths and crisp white linens, every detail reminds you that you're dining at a true San Francisco classic. Original Joe's first opened in 1937 in the Tenderloin. After a devastating fire forced the restaurant to close in 2007, it triumphantly reopened at its current location in 2012. Nestled between North Beach and Telegraph Hill, the restaurant sits in the middle of a lively neighborhood where people gather on street corners singing and dancing while delivery mopeds line up waiting for their next food pickup. The entire area has a vibrant energy yet still feels welcoming and safe. Although I was tempted by several of the brunch offerings, I ultimately ordered Joe's Famous Hamburger Sandwich. At the time, I didn't realize it was one of the restaurant's signature dishes. What won me over was the use of Boudin sourdough bread instead of a traditional hamburger bun. With several cheese options available, I chose Monterey Jack and requested my burger be charbroiled to a perfect medium-rare. It arrived with a generous serving of thin, crispy fries. It was absolutely delicious. The sandwich was so large that I could only finish half. For dessert, we ordered Zanze's Cheesecake. Over a decade ago, my husband and I used to buy Zanze's cheesecakes directly from their bakery on Ocean Avenue. Although the original shop has since closed, we were delighted to learn that Zanze sold both the name and the recipe to Original Joe's, preserving this beloved San Francisco dessert. The crustless cheesecake is wonderfully light and airy, like a soufflé, surrounded by fresh fruit and finished with a generous dollop of whipped cream. To complete our meal, we shared an Irish Coffee. Original Joe's uses the same Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey as another famous San Francisco institution, resulting in an exceptionally smooth drink that provided the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. Lastly, a special thank you to our server, Nail (pronounced "Neil"), who was outstanding. He had only been with the restaurant for two weeks, and we were among his first guests after completing training. Beyond being attentive and thoughtfully answering all of our questions, he has a genuinely warm spirit and one of those rare personalities that instantly makes people feel welcome and happy. read more
OJ's provided my group of 6 with a nice dinner experience on a Saturday night. I had been to other locations before and absolutely loved it and finally was able to secure a reservation at the SF spot. However, it was definitely my least favorite location. I found it to be really loud inside and could barely hear the server and others in my group. The overall service was great! Kinda waited and very attentive. Some of our cocktails did take a while to receive after order them, but the food came out fast and fresh! Everything we got was delicious. I will warn, that the spicy rigatoni was almost TOO spicy. It was good but if you cannot handle serious heat, do not order! Overall, great experience. Would come back again! read more
4 days ago
We had dinner here on our first real night in San Francisco and it was such a great way to start our trip! Everyone was really nice. When I asked for a table for 11, the host made sure I understood that the wait would be close to two hours before putting our name down, which I appreciated. We were eventually seated and were definitely ready to eat by then! We started with the calamari, which was YUM and a huge portion, perfect for sharing with a big group. My husband and I shared the Marry Me Farfalle with prawns and the Red Wine Braised Short Rib, and both were absolutely delicious. I was impressed by how generous they were with the prawns in the pasta. We were seated outside and while the inside looked a little nicer and much more lively, I was actually kind of glad we ended up outside because it can get LOUD in there! Overall, delicious food, friendly service, and a great first dinner in San Francisco. I'd definitely come back! read more
Add another star and that goes to the server Guillermo and Ernesto runner. The place is beautiful no doubt and has been here since 1937. It is pillar of this community. We had no idea its a must while visiting San Francisco. Yes its a must. The pasta and sauce was outstanding the veal was stupendous and another must is that butter cake. I did have thier prim rib its above good but if an Italian restaurant i should have gotten my ol stand by Lasagna....boohoo Lol Well if im around again I will follow my heart and go to Lasagna its little brother Ravioli was great and I had a small taste i believe the Lasagna is another must Gracias from Las Vegas. Guillermo never change brother awesome time and service with you read more
3 days ago
Had a great experience at Original Joe's North Beach, Chris Murphy is an excellent bar manager and you can tell he really takes pride in what he does, answered all my questions and had great recommendations. He's friendly, professional, and makes everyone feel welcome. Definitely will be returning for the food and drinks. read more
FOOD: 4 SERVICE: 4 AMBIANCE: 4 VALUE: 4 We came here for a Sunday brunch. Though we ended up having sandwiches. I had the Prime Rib dip. It was a good serving of sliced prime rib served on a French roll with creamy horseradish and Au Jus. The sandwich also came with a side of fries. The prime rib slices were tender and flavorful, which made the French dip just perfect. Nothing beats a side of crispy fries. The Zanze cheesecake brought back memories. Many years ago, I used to buy cheesecake from Zanze's store in the outer Sunset area. I can't really remember how the original cheesecake tasted, but I was told that Joe got the rights to the recipe and the cheesecake is made in house. It was a good, light and fluffy cheesecake. Service was attentive and friendly. My water glass was consistently refilled and was never empty. The decor was traditional and full of history. You feel like you've entered somewhere warm and welcoming as soon as you step in. Even though it was our first time here, it felt like we were regulars. We will come back and try this location for dinner. read more
I visited for a team dinner on a weekday evening, and even then the restaurant was packed - a good sign of how popular it is. Despite the crowd, the service was outstanding from start to finish. A special shoutout to Georgette, who went above and beyond to make sure the vegetarian members of our group had plenty of great options and felt well taken care of. The food was exceptional. I ordered the eggplant parmigiana along with a wine pairing recommended by one of the servers, and it turned out to be one of the best parmigiana I've ever had. The flavors were rich, perfectly balanced, and paired beautifully with the wine. Desserts were amazing too. The ambience is equally memorable, with a warm, inviting atmosphere that's perfect for both special occasions and group dinners. Be sure to take a moment to admire the artwork displayed throughout the restaurant, it adds a unique charm to the entire dining experience. I'll definitely be back! read more
Our tour guide, Jules with Dylan's Tours (highly recommend) said that Original Joe's was his top choice for Italian food in Little Italy. So, after our tour we came here for dinner. The meatball appetizer was amazing. The meatballs are beyond tender and the ricotta cheese and tomato sauce were excellent. A very good start to the meal. T got the ravioli and these are among her favorite. I got the chicken parm that was very good, along with the ravioli as the side dish. The portions are huge. We should have split the ravioli because we both knew we were not finishing the entrees as soon as they came out. Our waiter did a wonderful job and the restaurant itself is beautiful. It looks very high-class, but don't worry, it is casual. read more
3 months ago
Grew up in SF but first time visiting this Joe's location. I was craving clam chowder and am always happy with this one. Hubs and I shared a bowl as well as their famous hamburger sandwich. They kindly split our burger on separate plates when they brought it out to us. Fries were hot and crispy and the burger was good - plenty for the 2 of us to share. It was busy but at no time did we feel rushed. Service was great, too, as we were checked in on often and our water glasses were kept full. read more
2 months ago
What a hip, chill relaxing restaurant. Very cozy on a chic boulevard. The staff very friendly. The French dip was delicious with excellent fresh fries. The chicken Parmesan was tasty, huge portions. I wish we had this type of restaurant vibe in our hood. read more
2 months ago
Love Original Joes. If can't make it to Daily Cory West Lake then San Francisco's branch will do in a pinch. Raviolis are done and prime rib is yummy. read more
Came back again for dinner and it was delicious as usual. The arancini was okay but the spicy rigatoni was super yummy (the sauce is nice and creamy but definitely has a kick). Butter cake was also delicious but pretty sweet/rich so split it between 2-4 people. My friend also got the eggplant parm and it was solid! Service is always phenomenal here and the ambiance is great, just a little dark and noisy for conversation. read more
2 months ago
SERVICE We put our name down for a late-night dinner across Washington Park and were told to expect about a 40-minute wait. We strolled around the city area for a bit and they called us around the 30-minute mark, which was a nice surprise. We opted to sit outside, and our waiter was attentive in some ways.... she noticed we were chilly and turned on the heat lamps, which made a big difference. Water refills needed a bit of prompting, but once we asked, they were quick. Overall, friendly and accommodating, just a little slow on the basics. AMBIANCE The outdoor seating area has a relaxed, neighborhood feel (with some post-COVID tents still up on the street) but perfect for a late-night bite. It's not fancy, but it's comfortable, and the heat lamps made it cozy even when it got cooler. The vibe is casual and social, with just enough buzz to feel lively without being loud. Great for winding down after a day out. FOOD We ordered the filet of sole, filet of sole piccata, meatballs (not pictured), warm butter cake, tiramisu, and an espresso martini. The warm butter cake was the star!!!!!!!! It was definitely crunch on the outside with that cream cheesey taste and it was rich, moist, and perfectly warm....paired with the vanilla ice cream it was ridiculously good (probably not good for the belt line but darn I swear would come back for that)! The filet of sole dishes were solid: flaky, well-seasoned, the egg batter was pretty light and the piccata had a nice bright sauce. The meatballs were hearty and flavorful (forgot to take a picture) but was satisfying and the tiramisu was a good, classic finish. Everything was good, but that butter cake is the one I'll remember. read more
2 months ago
really good pizza on chestnut street! lots to do and shop around the area. the service was really great, and we were there midday and there were still so many people, so if going during rush hour i'd def recommend getting a reservation or something. the eggplant pizza was so so good! we added pesto, which was definitely a good move as it added alot of savory and flavor to the pizza, and th eggplant wasnt slimy at all. some of the best crust ive had in awhile too, as it was cheesy and tasted like a crispy breadstick rather than a doughy crust. everyone seemed to be getting the zucchini fries, and i though that they would be better than they were tbh. the breading was really thick, so you ended up just tasting like fried batter rather than any distinct flavor of zucchini. the dipping sauce was really good though, creamy bright and citrusy! fun experience and great pizza! read more
5 months ago
We love Original Joe's in San Francisco never disappoints! We started with their delicious fresh bread and arancini while I enjoyed a cosmo martini and an and my husband had a glass of Cabernet. We also shared a bottle of Acqua Panna, always a favorite. We split the Caesar salad and the chicken parm, and everything was absolutely delicious. The food, drinks, and service are consistently amazing every time we visit San Francisco. This has become one of our must-stop restaurants whenever we're in town. Highly recommend if you want a classic San Francisco dining experience! It is busy so best to make a reservation. Buon Appetite! read more
Get a reservation. It will make everything so much easier. We did walk up (unfortunately on graduation night) and were quoted 45 mins to an hour. Not bad, except we waited closer to an hour and a half before getting seated. It was crazy. Get that reservation. The atmosphere is so cool. The look and feel is really nice and helps add to the experience, even if it is VERY loud and rather dark. The food was phenomenal. Maybe that's because it was our first bite of food in literal hours. But I do think it's genuinely fantastic. The wait staff was great, even though it was crazy busy right before they closed. I would love to go back as long as I had a reservation. read more
5 months ago
I've heard the hype around Original Joe's from peers, family, and coworkers for so long, and now I finally understand why people enjoy it so much! We started off with the calamari appetizer, and it was crisp, succulent, and so good with the tartar sauce. Definitely a great way to start the meal. My friends and I ordered our entrées, and the food came out pretty quickly. We all shared our dishes with each other, which made the experience even more fun. My friends got the chicken marsala and the veal, while I ordered the marry me farfalle pasta. The veal was delicious, and although the chicken marsala was a little dry for my liking, the flavor of the dish itself was still really good. The marry me pasta was wonderful, creamy, and something I really enjoyed. Overall, the atmosphere, service, and food made for such a great dinner experience. I'd definitely come back here again with family and friends. read more
20 hours ago
Busy busy busy but I don't think this establishment even cares about patrons. Our Mothers Day celebration started with brunch at Origials Joe with much disappointment. Drinks came fast - 1 star. Calamari was good the other star. After an hour waiting for our food, we figured we are done. Other parties after us got served and here we are still waiting. Our server said oh the kitchen is busy. Oh no! Breaking news I can see that. However, after I pointed out other tables after us have been served, it was evident that there's chaos in their process. I also have been told the manager will come to talk to us... but to no avail. Even the manager is busy! hey we got the only dish we liked comped! And they even forgot one appetizer. Not going back. read more
5 months ago
Came in expecting a classic SF spot, but honestly this was one of the more disappointing meals I've had in the city. The food was bland, mediocre, and borderline gross for the price. Nothing tasted fresh or seasoned properly. Service didn't help either. Staff was inattentive and hard to flag down most of the night. The only redeeming part of the meal was the bread, which was actually pretty good. We ended up not eating anything and just asking for the bill and leaving. Not worth the visit read more
15 days ago
Our server Amy was lovely, attentive and very nice. Food good overall. Restaurant was clean including the bathroom. Nice vintage atmosphere. We made reservations at opening and we got stuck at the table by the door. It was a bit cold so every time the door opened the wind whipped straight to us. Also weird that bread isn't served which was different from Daly City location, we assumed it was extra but it would've been nice to have some to nibble on while we waited for our food in the cold. read more
Truffle fries - 5/5 Arancini- 5/5 Vodka pasta 5/5 Srsly everything here is amazing. Atleast the three things we got! Service was nice and friendly. And for us walking in on Friday we got seated super quick. Also had the pomegranate martini! It was soooo yummy. Would love to see more non alcoholic options read more
26 days ago
OG Joe's has great truffle fries and amazing spaghetti and meatballs. The house salad is big and tasty. Great service, very attentive. Nice ambiance with soo many people you don't have to yell to talk with your loved one(s). read more
I've always heard of this "Joe's Special" dish made at restaurants all over CA and the west. It's famous, I remember the first time I saw it made, I was sitting at a counter and the cooks were right behind the counter in an open kitchen. I was impress that it was flaming and the skilled cooks just tossed the food in the air and flipped the food in the pan that way. So, I was looking forward to coming here, the Original Joe's, the place where this famous dish started. I gotta say the parking in North Beach is impossible, especially with the big Suburban we rented, so we just Ubered over from the hotel. This is one busy restaurant. Prices are SF high as well. But this is a company paid assignment so what the heck. I ordered the Joe's Special and my friend ordered the cheeseburger. I know, kinda ordinary, but it's supposed to be really good. I didn't get to see the food tossing cooks from where we were seated, but the food came out and smelled wonderful. My friends cheeseburger and fries came out with beefy meat sandwiched inside a torpedo like French bread. My Joe's special filled the plate. It's made with ground beef, mushrooms, onions and some other stuff. I think I taste the white wine maybe. I've had this dish before at other places, but I'll say here at Original Joe's is the best I've had. It's a real experience to come here and I'd come again. I hear there's other location in the Bay Area, maybe where the parking isn't such a pain. I'd come here again, just let someone else do the driving. read more
7 months ago
Original Joe's was on my SF bucket list and has finally been checked off this past weekend. We got reservations (which is essential) because the wait must have been hours on a weekend. Considering this is a chain, I had low expectations but some dishes really stood out to me. I loved the fritto misto (fried mixed seafood and vegetable). Super crispy and the mix of lemon and fried olives + seafood were incredible. I also loved the branzino which had copious amounts of herby butter. It was perfectly cooked and de-boned for easy eating. The side of spaghetti was nothing special. I also tried the St. Patrick's day corned beef and potato ravioli special. My worries about the corned beef being too salty ended up being unfounded because the raviolis tasted like barely anything at all. Stick to the classics because that's what Original Joe's does well and you'll be pleased to get an affordable meal in North Beach. Service is understandably a bit slow because every table was full on a Sunday at 4pm. read more
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More info about Original Joe's
601 Union St
San Francisco, CA 94133
North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Directions
(415) 775-4877
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https://www.originaljoes.com
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Ask the Community - Original Joe's
Is the bar first come first serve?
The bar is first come first served. You can get dinner at the small tables there if you want
Looks from the menu like there is nothing here that is at all vegan-friendly except a salad. Not much more that is vegetarian-friendly either. Am I missing something?
Joe's is not vegan friendly, plus you will be surrounded by meat. That said, Martini's are vegan! Good luck
Is Prime Rib always available for dinner I see it on some menus but not all?
Just call the restaurant. They will tell you
Are you allowed to sit at kitchen counter and watch the cooks while you eat?
Hi Michael - Yes, our kitchen counter is available for dining!
How much do they charge if you bring a birthday cake to eat there?
Do they accept walk ins? Whats the wait normally like on a Monday or Tuesday around 7?
i went on a tuesday around 5:30-6:30pm as a a party of two walk-in and they do accept walk-ins. by…
We are celebrating a birthday and wondered if we can bring our own cake?
I think you can do that, but I would call in advance and make arrangements..,
Do they offer valet parking?
They discontinued it - probably because of the parklets. Last time I asked they did not accept reservations.
Proof of vax needed to dine here?
No. You don't need to give it that as the city has drooped that requirement.
Do you serve any vegan options?
You have to ask them, the pasta is made with egg the old school way, I ate there but they can accommodate a vegan risotto.
Pick up orders?
They do offer carry out orders! Once you arrive, head to the host stand and they will direct you to the pick up area.
Does the Resraurant have TV's playing sports games, like the 49ers?
There are tv's in the bar only , none in any of their dinning rooms. It's not a sports bar
What are the new indoor/outdoor dining policies during omicron?
Vaccinated and masks required
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
140 reviews that are not currently recommended
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