Cancel

Open app

Search

Original Joe's

4.1 (2.6k reviews)
Closed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

Order Original Joe's Takeout or Delivery

Original Joe's Photos

Business Info

ORIGINAL JOE'S ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Good for kids

More like Original Joe's

Recommended Reviews - Original Joe's

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Michael S.

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

Robbie R.

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.

Roop K.

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

Abel A.

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.

Branzino
Catherine N.

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.

1st dining room
Mike C.

With Lent about halfway through, my challenge on Fridays is finding a convenient and menu friendly lunch spot. The menu here fits the bill especially with their Friday lunch special being fish and chips. Coming here a little after noon, I was led by the hostess to a window side table in the main dining room. I studied the hardbound menu before deciding on my meal. I started with a glass of iced tea (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=1nuRWd8TjqRffKmtKgPG6g) which hit the spot with the unseasonably warm weather we had in early March. My 1st course was a bowl of New England clam chowder (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=24&select=1vlgQ5-zuqSab7q9jLItEA), chocked with chopped clams, potatoes, celery, and bacon (oops, forgot about this is non Lent friendly ingredient). As usual, I added several dashes of Tabasco sauce to heat things up. For my main meal, I tried the linguine and clams (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=wkUkId4TDgr9qZunwEUQcw), white wine, garlic, and cream; this is a generous portion and there is plenty of fresh clams that we most in-shell (23-24 clams). This can be a shared plate for diners with lighter appetites. The sauce was on the creamy side but not overly so. I finished only half and had the rest for dinner the next night. This was a very filling lunch as I finished the bowl of soup and had two slices of the complimentary sourdough bread too. There were only two occupied tables when I arrived a little after noon. More diners flowed until I left a little after 1 pm, including neighborhood ladies getting together and large parties (work meeting?) of ten or more. Thanks to Angel R. and his supporting coworkers for serving me and satisfying my needs during my meal. I look forward to returning, likely before Easter to try those fish and chips. *** Being a somewhat frequent diner to their Westlake (Daly City) location, I compared the menu prices and it seems that they are identical for those who are curious.

Fritto Misto
Vivian H.

On recent visit, started with calamari and antipasto platter which were great. 8oz Filet Mignon was some of the best steak I've ever had - beautifully cooked to medium rare and tender. Unfortunately dreadfullly over-salted, even after scrapping off all the sauce. I balanced it with broccoli (not salty, perfect cook too) every other bite. Truffle mash was ridiculously good. Normally I'll only have a couple bites of mashed potato but finished this too. Butter cake was extremely sweet but the texture of the crust and flavor were great. Had to get a decaf coffee to cut the sweet and only ate the crust. Way too sweet. So definitely some highlights and lowlights.. feel like everything was generally delish and cooked well but over seasoned. Service was good but they're also slammed - so it takes some time to check in and get seated, and I ordered a drink that never came, etc.

Spicy Rigatoni
Julie V.

Original Joe's has a very cozy vibe which I love. I really enjoy the dim lighting and the customer service is typically pretty great as well. The wait staff is always checking in on you - there is zero chance of you choking on food as they're so quick to refill your water. As a recommendation, if you go on a date here and the conversation is pretty dry, you should order the spicy rigatoni. It's really great and I guarantee you can talk about it for at least 20 minutes. If you don't want to talk, you can eat it slowly and savor it for 20 minutes. Either way, best decision you can make is getting this dish as the time will go by a lot faster. You can add an extra 5 minutes and protein by requesting chicken as an add-on too!

Sara K.

Had a great experience here with my friends. We were a group of 5 and had a reservation. Our waters were filled and they were very attentive with refills. The serving sizes are crazy and feels extremely worth it. I split the chicken Milanese and spicy rigatoni with my partner and they split it for us. I honestly couldn't move after it was so filling for both of us. The Milanese was great and crispy and was great with the arugula paired with it to balance it out a little. The spicy rigatoni was beautifully al dente, wasn't very spicy tbh but I feel like most Italian places are like that. We also ordered some desserts the cheesecake and butter cake. The cheesecake was very light and the butter cake was very decadent and lovely (was my fave). Overall, would definitely recommend trying this place out and would make a reservation before cause it is pretty loud and seemed hella packed inside.

Spaghetti & MeatballsSpaghetti
Marc P.

Walked up with no reservation around 5:45 and were able to get a table. We had a roasted Beet Salad, Caesar Salad to start and both were delicious. I had the Pesto Linguini and it was delicious. I had to make myself finish it because it was so filling. And don't get me started on the butter cake it was delicious as well. The restaurant inside is gorgeous and full of energy. Everyone is having a good time. I always enjoy coming here for dinner when in San Francisco!

Prosciutto & Burrata
Andrew H.

I visit Original Joe's about once a month. I almost always sit in the bar and the service is outstanding. It's a little loud and cramped, yet casual and comfy. My latest favorite is the Prime Rib, and it's done right! I love a dirty hendricks with blue cheese olives to go with the meal.

Spicy Rigatoni
K B.

Came here for a group lunch. Loved the atmosphere. The dim lighting, booth seats, and displays throughout the restaurant made it an enjoyable experience. Our server was really nice and allowed us to take our time. The bread was very stale so not my favorite. I ordered their spicy rigatoni and it was good. Not WOWing but not bad either. There was a tad hint of heat, but it was very subtle. The portion was bigger than expected, so I took the rest to go. Would've loved to try their zucchini or truffle fries so maybe I'll come back and try them next time.

Fried Calamari, Truffle Fries, Espresso Martini
Hovik T.

I heard a lot of things about this place prior to visiting San Francisco so I had to check it out for myself. I had to make reservations 2-3 weeks in advance because they tend to get booked fast. We ordered the fried calamari, truffle fries, and two espresso martinis. The truffle fries were cooked to perfection and had ton of flavor coming from the truffle. I had more expectations from the calamari, it was just okay. The espresso martini was one of the best i've ever tried. The total came out to $87 before tip. The ambiance was great and the service was also amazing. Definitely recommend this spot!

Marry Me Pasta with Prawns

See all

5 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

14 hours ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 3
Love this 3
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 4
Oh no 0
Photo of Abel A.
1104
289
1263

3 months ago

Helpful 8
Thanks 4
Love this 4
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Eric M.
10
156
37

20 days ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of John D.

John D.

Helpful 7
Thanks 4
Love this 10
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 2

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of K B.
0
34
14

28 days ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 2

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Bob J.
107
991
5405

2 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Mina G.
244
422
11194

4 months ago

Helpful 27
Thanks 9
Love this 31
Oh no 0
Photo of S L.
0
115
332

15 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ariana M.
220
14
35

2 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 1

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

19 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 66

Original Joe's Reviews in Other Languages

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

What time does the dinner menu start on Saturdays?

4pm

Where to park the car?

North beach garage

Will you be open on 11/28 (Thanksgiving)?

The answer is: Call them!!!!

Need reservation for lunch?

Yes!

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… Read more

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

Is the bar opened?

The bar is open, proof of vaccination required.

Can you sit at the counter?

Do you mean the bar? That is the only counter they have, otherwise tables and booths.

Do you have gluten free pasta?

Hi Latrice - Gluten free pasta is available upon request!

View All 42 Questions

Sisterita

Sisterita

4.5(1.1k reviews)
0.5 miFinancial District
$$
Locally sourced ingredients
Casual dining

Excellent service! My only advice is to come and see for yourself. When we called to ask about a…read morewait, they mentioned there was not wait... part of the reason they do that is because they don't keep a list. You either have reservations or you're a walk in and you stand in line until a table is available for you. At first this was strange, but I think it makes for a better experience. The team was incredible, they were so kind on a day that can be stressful for a small restaurant. We had incredible food. I was so happy to get my Eggs Royale and my husband said the French toast was the best he's ever had. (Even comparing it to French toast in Paris) No notes. This will be our Mother's Day place going forward next time with reservations.

My partner and I decided to go to the city one weekend and decided we wanted brunch. After looking…read morethrough some place, we came across Sisterita and it looked very promising. It seems like this place is an asian fusion brunch place incorporating french dishes into thai/asian themed dishes which is up our alley. We made a reservation at 1:45 PM and we had to wait for about an extra 30 minutes before getting seated. Initially, I wanted to try their crab fried rice but unfortunately they were out of crab. We decided to get the Alcatraz Escape and the Brioche french toast which were recommended by the wait staff. The staff was generally friendly and accommodating but I can tell they were swamped and stressed out with all the people they were trying to serve. The food itself tasted decent, the Alcatraz Escape had a tasty flavor which incorporates tom yum paste (sweet, sour, tangy flavor) into their scramble with about 4 shrimps. The side of crispy chicken was good but nothing that stood out to us. The brioche was soft but there wasn't much flavoring besides the fruits and caramelized banana. It was served with evaporated milk which made the brioche soft but not adding much flavor to it. The price however was quite pricey. For two dishes as a side we paid around $78 with tax and tip.

Photos
Sisterita
Sisterita
Sisterita

See all

Brenda's French Soul Food - 3 way beignets- plain, chocolate, apple

Brenda's French Soul Food

4.2(12.8k reviews)
1.3 miTenderloin
$$$

I still love Brenda's!!!!!!!…read more I haven't been back in a few years, but I am happy to report: they are still just as great! It was my daughter's first time and she loved it just as much as I did. We came during restaurant week so we decided to get the Creole Sampler so she could try a bunch of different items. (Sampler included red beans and rice, collard greens, fried catfish, hush puppies, plain beignet and gumbo). We also ordered the beignet flight and shrimp and grits. Plenty of food for the 2 of us, plus we had left overs. I can't not order the shrimp and grits. It's just so damn good! It's so rich and flavorful! It came out SUPER hot. Grits and cheese still bubbling. My daughter and I were both surprised she liked the collard greens. She's usually not a fan. She also liked the red beans and rice and she doesn't usually like beans either. That just goes to show how amazing the food is here! We came in around 4something pm on a rainy Sunday. There weren't many people there, but by the time we left it was more than half full. Service was friendly, and there was a band playing, which was a nice touch.

I am speechless! I saw the rave reviews for Brenda's French Soul Food and had to try them out for…read moremyself. And, my goodness, I was not disappointed. Let me start with the star of the show - the Shrimp & Grits. The flavors blended so well I did a little dance in my seat. Creamy, savory and delicious! I will be dreaming about the Shrimp and Grits from now on. The Bananas Foster French Toast melted in my mouth. So yummy. I wasn't a fan of the Crawfish Beignets. It was something about the flavor of the red powder/ seasoning that left me underwhelmed. All in all, one of my favorite stops while I was in town.

Photos
Brenda's French Soul Food - Dining area and entrance

Dining area and entrance

Brenda's French Soul Food - Shrimp & Grits

Shrimp & Grits

Brenda's French Soul Food - Their dark chicken and shrimp.

See all

Their dark chicken and shrimp.

Original Joe's - italian - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...