I loved it here, the food is amazing! I had ordered the spicy rigatoni and it definitely exceeded my expectation. Service is great, will come again. read more

Original Joe's - Joe's Spicy Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

The burger served on a French roll was amazingly delicious. It was also huge; I couldn't even finish half of it. But I had issues with things other than the food. The wait staff never offered to refill my iced tea. We were seated indoors, and it was freezing cold; our table was in a draft, and cold air blew on us all throughout the meal. Finally, there is not even one single handicapped parking space anywhere near the front door of this restaurant. I wish I could dine here more often, but the place is truly inaccessible! read more

Ever since Original Joe's opened in Walnut Creek--just a few blocks from our house--we've loved spending time in the lounge. It has an intimate, gorgeous atmosphere, fantastic cocktails, and a great wine list, especially if you enjoy Italian reds like I do. What truly sets the experience apart, though, is the manager, Walter (Wally). We first met him years ago when he managed Il Fornaio, another Walnut Creek staple. Wally is an absolute gentleman--warm, personable, and attentive. He always remembers us and greets us like old friends. If you visit, be sure to say hello to him; he's the kind of person who never forgets a face. read more

Always crazy busy, but unfortunately, I think it's pretty overrated. We went for a late dinner, and it took 30 minutes to place our order and over an hour more to get our food. I ordered the lasagna, which was a huge portion and actually really good. I ate literally two bites before asking for a box. This is one of those places that takes your plate and boxes and bags up the leftovers for you. The next day, I went to eat my leftovers and found that they had given me someone else's half eaten food. Good lasagna, but the slow service and mix-up with someone else's leftovers made the experience not worth the hype. read more

This place is like an instagram model, looks great but might lack substance. I waited a long time to try this place. Theres always a line and even with the yelp waitlist system, the time it takes to get seated, I can probably walk through Broadway Plaza 100 times. I'm pretty easy to please and maybe if I didn't have high expectations and the restaurant wasn't priced a tier above a more casual contemporary American/fusion place, I'd give this place a 5/5, but 4 is plenty good. The art deco 10/10, you walk in and the restaurant feels like a premium space. The hosts and servers are all wonderful. The food is what's lacking, it's almost an upscale Cheesecake Factory. Complimentary bread with thin crouton/crostini 6/10 It's okay--it's free. Veal parm with spaghetti meat sauce 7/10 Nice presentation. The taste was decent and the spaghetti meat sauce was quite good. The veal parm itself was cooked pretty well, but the sauce's acidity was a little off. Zucchini fries 7/10 Good, nice presentation. Fried prawns 9/10 This was my favorite, cooked perfectly, and the cocktail sauce was phenomenal, hint of horseradish/wasabi--very very good. LOJ Burger 7/10 fries 9/10 mashed potatoes 7/10 Burger cooked perfectly, bun was soggy, and lacked a little salt. Fries were really good. Potatoes were okay. All in all, I would come back, I just expected better because of the price tag. Good photo ops if you're into that. read more

See all

Food was delicious! And service was excellent. We had made reservations so the wait time was minimal. It was more casual than I expected, so not a fancy dining experience. Also, it was very loud. So don't expect it to be a quiet romantic dinner location. Otherwise it was great food and great service which matters. read more

Original Joe's - Berkshire Pork Chop w/ ravioli side - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

See all

We had a reservation for lunch on Sunday and had a wonderful time celebrating my friend's birthday. The service and the food were excellent! The restaurant is beautiful, and we were glad we made a reservation because it was very busy. We started with the Jumbo Prawn Cocktail and Joe's Italian Chopped Salad, and I had the Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo made with gluten-free pasta. Everything was delicious, and the portions were very generous. Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert but the Joe's Sundae looked amazing! There's a huge parking structure nearby at Broadway Plaza, which makes parking very convenient. read more

See all

Have been wanting to try Original Joe's since they opened in WC and Monday I finally made it for a business lunch! The atmosphere, service and food were all top notch, no wonder it's so busy. We shared a crab cake (almost all crab, crispy crust and super tender inside, melt in your mouth), I had the Sole Picatta with a side of ravioli and my colleague had the Chinese Chicken Salad, both yummy. We shared the warm butter cake for dessert... Omg, I was in love, light, warm spices and topped with ice-cream. Definitely recommend! read more

See all

Celebrated our one year anniversary at OJ on Monday Aug 31. Service = 1 star Food = 4 stars We were seated in the main dining area. Our hostess offered water. Then our server came around and asked if we're ready to order. I asked her what her name was because she didn't introduce herself. Just are we ready to order. So she responds, "Evelyn". Like she didn't know what her name was. For dinner I had the dole whip drink, which was nice and a slow sipper. Started with calamari and wished it were crispier. The breading was falling off and we could have been warned about the super horseradish cocktail sauce. It's our first time here. We weren't offered parm cheese with our entrees. Evelyn was more concerned with clearing our dishes. She never asked how's our meal. Chicken piccata was delicious with a side of spaghetti. Same with chicken parm, a huge chicken breast covered in cheese. No celebratory dessert offered here. read more

See all

Portions are amazing here. And food is pretty good. You're typical American, Italian fare. Was able to catch a spot in the bar area for two people in service with so so downside about sitting in the bar area was so many people were walking back-and-forth with their legs and butts, scraping it against our table due to close proximity and it could be a little loud. I've stopped in regular dining and outside, which have been great experiences so I definitely prefer that. read more

See all

Thanks to an invitation from our daughter and her co-workers, I finally had a meal here at Joe's and it did not disappoint! There is a lively atmosphere from the moment you enter the building. It was really hopping at noon as groups arrived and walk ins to the bar. Once our group was all together, we were seated and asked what kind of water we wanted. We opted for vintage EBMUD ha ha! The mountain of zucchini fries! It could use some salt and we should have had two more people with us! The pesto mayo is a great compliment. We shared the chopped Italian salad which is heavy with garbanzo beans and was lightly dressed. It was a nice balance of tanginess and saltiness from the meats and cheeses. We also shared the spicy rigatoni which was cheesy and cooked al dente. An excellent pasta dish. I had the linguine and clams and there are lots of clams. No skimping at all and plenty of garlic as well. My daughter had the gnocchi which are very light and hearty with the short ribs. The other two folks had steak and chicken Milanese which is served with a pile of arugula. They both had raviolis as their side pasta. So much food that each of us had leftovers and no room for dessert unfortunately. Definitely a place to come back to so that you can work through the menu. Service was great. My only request is for ice water. Odd that the tap water is served room temp. The waitress warned that the drinks are served strong and it was true! Great at lunch time! Parking in the structure is recommended because you get 3 hours free. Just a couple minutes walk which is perfect after a belly filling meal. read more

See all

Got a reservation for the outdoor patio on a Wednesday evening. It can get a bit hot out there especially during summer, so I'd advise wearing light unless you want to run the risk of sweating. Service was attentive and prompt! They had a good wine list selection as well; I was surprised to see a sancerre I had in Paris that I've been looking for in the US. We got the zucchini fries, spicy rigatoni vodka (with shrimp but you can add chicken too), prime rib, and butter cake. As always, the fries were great and huge especially coupled with their dipping sauce. The vodka pasta was cooked well and had a slight chew. The shrimp flavor was prominent in the sauce. Prime rib was cooked well to my medium rare request. The creamed spinach was good, and so was the salty mashed potatoes. The salt level on the prime rib itself wasn't that much, so eating it with the potatoes was a good combo. Butter cake was great as well. Moist on the inside and slightly dry on the outside, but went well with the ice cream. Would return and try other dishes as well! read more

Original Joe's - Slow Roasted Prime Rib - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

See all

I've been to most of the Original Joe's in the SF/Bay Area and have had a consistent experience. The same goes for the Walnut Creek location. The classic booth, counter, and table setups blend legacy and upscale decor. They also have a nice outdoor seating area. My favorite here is the Porterhouse steak, cooked rare, and it did not disappoint. Come hungry if you order the zucchini fries! The wait staff team is seasoned, attentive, and polite. Thanks for the wonderful meal! read more

Original Joe's - Porterhouse - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I've been wanting to try this spot for so long but it's always so crowded, even on weekdays, so I was excited to finally get a reservation on thursday at 9 pm. The restaurant was still packed when we went. They brought out complimentary bread to start, but it wasn't the best. For drinks, we got the purple haze mocktail, which was pretty good. We then started with the zucchini fries to share, and the portion size was crazy. It's definitely something to order with a group because there was so much that we had to pack most of it, but they were good and I really liked the sauce. For mains, we got the spicy rigatoni, chicken fettuccine alfredo with the chicken on the side, and eggplant parmesan. everything was great! the pastas were really creamy and yummy, and we definitely had enough food that we couldn't finish everything. they also packed up the leftovers for us, which was nice. the dishes are definitely on the pricier side though. We ended with the butter cake, which was probably my favorite part! It was served super warm and basically melted in your mouth with the ice cream. We were also celebrating a birthday and had mentioned it to them beforehand. They don't really do anything special for birthdays, but they did put a candle on the dessert. We were expecting the sparkling candle after seeing it in a few people's videos, so that was a little disappointing, but the cake itself was really good. Our servers were nice, although they were pretty busy with how packed the restaurant was. The restaurant itself was also pretty dark and noisy, so it can get a little hectic. But I think the place is worth a try at least once! read more

See all

Sometimes, a late night, last minute date night, can be saved with eating at the bar at Original Joe's! We've been to this location twice, and the wait for the bar has been less than 5 min, super chic furniture. Think sexy date with posh drinks and very yummy pasta!!! Service is polite and fast, even in the bar area! read more

Original Joe's - Spaghetti + Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

See all

Came for a birthday dinner and the place was packed at 5:30pm on a weeknight. The front attendants was not too friendly. The manager however was very friendly and helpful. The zucchini fries were very good. Ravioli was good but not exceptional. The bread varieties were outstanding. Salmon was ok. The spaghetti was good. Lemon Pie was ok, not exceptional. Ambiance was a bit dark for my taste. Maybe need a slight touch of remodeling. Parking was first 3 hours free. read more

See all

We had the best time at Original Joe's! Our group wanted to try Original Joe's for a celebration, so we made a reservation for Tuesday evening and there were plenty of openings. Check in with the hostess was easy and were seated quickly after all our party arrived. We started with the zucchini fries and cocktails. The fries were pilled high and light and crispy. We ordered a couple of entrees, like the veal piccata and ravioli. Everything we got tasted amazing and portions were huge. We also got the cheesecake and butter cake for dessert. They were exquisite! The cheesecake was so airy, unlike anything I've had. The butter cake was also divine. It was warm and buttery and perfect with the ice cream. The highlight was truly the service. The staff are all so attentive and helpful. Our server was such a delight and made our night enjoyable. She gave us such great recommendations. Everyone working there was wonderful. We really had the best experience and can't wait to come back. read more

See all

Adding this review to boost what I think should be higher than a 3.9 average. From the moment we step in the door, the vibes were great. The classic look mixed with the modern works so well. The staff was so attentive, and our server was good with checking in and giving us recommendations. Our meals were steak, clam chowder, burger, eggplant parmesan, and seafood pasta, and EVERYTHING was delicious and came out promptly. I love how they were able to box early courses to make room for our entrée meals. They filled our waters without asking, they came back promptly to take our second round of drink orders, and the whole experience was great! Much better than the grumblings I had heard before actually going, which made me weary of dining here in the first place. Drinks were delicious great ambiance, and a lovely place for dinner for 2 or 10. We're coming back, and hopefully soon! read more

Original Joe's - Zucchini fries!! - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Honestly my first time experience was fantastic although there was a long delay because people dining didn't want to leave after finishing their meals and chatted for hours. It was my girlfriend's birthday so I had reserved a table for 2 at 6:30pm and didn't get sat down until 7:25pm. Staff apologized and more than made up for it and I really appreciate their efforts for making it a great night. They gave us complimentary brute champagnes for having us wait beyond our reservation and at the end a complimentary birthday dessert of our choice. Honestly I wouldn't mind waiting again for free stuff haha but the wait did leave the birthday girl very frustrated until dining. The food is fantastic! Everything was on point and delicious. Drink was also good too. I don't have any other complaints except wait time but the professionalism and hospitality went off the charts. I normally breakdown and rate what I got but honestly it's a 5/5 for me. I ordered gnocchi, fettuccine alfredo, meatballs, ministrone, and chose Joe's butter cake. All was absolutely exceptional. Portions are huge and is of great value. I'm definitely coming back and will probably order the same list again! read more

See all

Overview: upscale steakhouse but at the price point Original Joe's underdelivered Food: The 8 ounce filet was good, not extraordinary, just good. Like all the food at this restaurant, the steak was over salted. The options for sides are dismal. I had the mashed potatoes with the filet, and the mashed potatoes disappointed. My wife had the pork chop and ordered it well done. It was served medium rare, and she sent it back. Her ravioli was not edible and was insanely oversalted. She sent back the ravioli for French fries. The French fries were good but again stupidly over salted. Drinks: Good IPA on draft Service: sub par service; we sat at the bar since we didn't have reservations. Server was stretched thin and forgot abous us a few times. Overall cleanliness: above average Bathroom cleanliness: average Value: Poor value considering the amateurish oversalting of everything read more

See all

Always love it here! Perfect for a late girls bday lunch. Enjoyed the shrimp cocktail and of course the mountain of zucchini fries! The Chestnut St chopped salad is a fav! What's not to like? Tons of cheese, amazing chicken, beets, egg(if you like), bacon, avocado, and tomato! And of course amazing drinks! read more

See all

Original Joe's has been on my "must-try" list for a long time, so maybe my expectations were too high, but I walked away wondering what all the hype was about. Maybe the San Francisco location is the one everyone raves about. The biggest disappointment wasn't even the food--it was the service. Our meals sat at the expo counter for well over 10 minutes while we watched staff stand around chatting just feet away. By the time our food finally made it to the table, it wasn't even hot anymore. That's something that should never happen, especially at a restaurant with this reputation. The famous garlic bread was easily the highlight of the meal--crispy, buttery, and covered with Parmesan. The Italian chopped salad was fresh and delicious. The chicken piccata was just okay. It wasn't bad, but it didn't stand out or have that bright, flavorful sauce you'd expect. The lasagna was only warm when it arrived and surprisingly lacked the rich, bold flavor that should make a classic Italian lasagna memorable. I also ordered the watermelon cocktail, which looked great on the menu... except mine arrived without the watermelon. Kind of ironic. The restaurant itself is beautiful. The open kitchen gives the place a classic, lively Italian feel. Unfortunately, the atmosphere couldn't make up for watching our food sit in plain sight getting cold before anyone bothered to bring it over. Overall, it wasn't a terrible meal, but it definitely didn't live up to the reputation or the hype. When you're paying these prices, hot food and attentive service shouldn't be too much to ask. I left feeling like the experience was more disappointing than memorable, and I'm not sure I'd be back unless someone convinces me the San Francisco location is a completely different story. read more

See all

Took my MIL here to celebrate an early birthday. She's from Massachusetts, so the bar for Italian and seafood is very high. Joe's did not disappoint! We got a reso for 8pm and the restaurant was still packed. We've been to the West Lake location, but the Dub-C spot is new and the interiors looked amazing. Very beautiful and photogenic. Our server was very attentive and gave his reccos. The food was amazing overall--with the crab cake and spicy rigatoni being our favorite. The crab cake was absolutely packed with crab meat with very little filler, and the sauce made it extra decadent. The spicy rigatoni was faithfully consistent and delicious. Everything else was equally tasty so you really can't go wrong. To top off our evening, we ordered the lemon pie and wow... next time, definitely save room for dessert! read more

See all

Had multiple top tier experiences at Original Joe's Westlake so was very excited to have one closer. Reservations were made for Friday night date night and highly recommended. Line out the door. Inside was obnoxiously loud, could barely hear the hostess nor have a conversation with my boyfriend. Opted to sit outside. What we ordered: Drinks - 9/10 cannot recall the names, but they were yummy Arancini - 9/10 not usual fans of risotto, but really enjoyed this dish! Good size starter. Red sauce is in the tart side which I love Truffle Fries - 9/10 good portion, perfectly fried and the aioli was delicious Little Gem Caesar - 10/10 solid Caesar salad! Ribeye with Mash - 5/10 was cooked fine, but heavily salty. Price didn't really fit what was presented. Mash potatoes were good Bone In Veal Melanese - 8/10 it was fine. Was not a fan of arugula this particular night but it seemed to be a hassle to sub for another side with us willing to pay extra Extra side of Mac & Cheese - would skip, it was just dry The drinks and apps were enjoyable. Glad I tried this location, but would go to Westlake location or elsewhere before considering to come back. May be worth a try for others read more

See all

I went here on Tuesday night for a birthday and it was super busy even at early 5:15 PM. Reservations are highly recommended. They save your table for two hours, but then after we left, the line was still out the door. The restaurant is very reminiscent at old-school steakhouses. The interior ambience has an old-school charm with some nice upgrades and is very bright with nice green velvet couches that are comfortable to sit at. All the servers were very nice and patient with us even when they were super busy; our server Josh was very attentive. Good wine bottle prices starting at $40 didn't get a chance to try the cocktails but the prices are higher ag $15-$18. We ordered several starters to share for the table. Our favorite was the ricotta with olives. Very unique starter I haven't had that before and perfect mix of sweet savory with the honey in it too. They also give a basket of bread for the table, which was a nice touch. Also got an order of the zucchini fries, which is definitely a must have. It's that huge dish that the servers bring around with the mound of green fries on top of it fried perfectly and with a great seasoning. We got several different options for our mains. My friends really enjoyed the whole Bronzino with head on. I had the scallop dish which came with a very tasty corn and bacon risotto. Only three smaller pieces of scallop though so not worth the $44 imo. My other friends had the prime rib dip, which was tasty and the pork chop, which was also recommended by the server as an undercover dish that people don't order, but is surprisingly very good. Most of the meat dishes come with an additional side that you can choose. I like that they give you option options for ravioli spaghetti sides, instead of the typical fries or mashed potatoes. We also ordered two desserts the cheesecake which was highly recommended. It tasted like a soufflé cheesecake. It was very soft and fluffy. We also got the donuts which came with 2 different dipping sauces. The donuts were OK nothing extraordinary. Overall, had a very nice meal with friends would recommend going with a small group as they have great starters to share. I think I'll order the fish next time. I'm not partial to me, but they have a lot of meat dishes that looked exceptional. Park for three hours free in the Broadway parking plaza. read more

See all

July 31 2026 3.6 stars I quit spending money in Walnut Creek probably 15 years ago because the town uses parking fees too aggressively as their tax base. You will be fined on the sabbath for parking and spending money too long here. Berkeley (near my home) doesn't do that. Go figure. Wife went here for a girls day out for lunch. Ribeye steak and spag $65. Expensive? The restaurant cheaply knocked up the bill $5 for a small plastic sauce cup of creamy horseradish. Waitress Mayra should have mentioned the surcharge. :-( The leftovers my wife brought home were more or less ok. The spag a bit salty. read more

Original Joe's - Nice looking grill marks. - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Wow! Such a classy spot with an aesthetic that feels like a place an Italian grandfather woulda loved to smoke his pipe at on a Sunday. Food is scrumptious with generous servings. Wait staff is impeccable and stylish--they have a flair for polished and pleasant at this joint. It's like a 24-karat diner read more

See all

After finally scoring a reservation, The Kid and I stopped by Original Joe's for lunch before heading out for some back-to-school shopping. We had originally reserved outdoor seating since that's all that was available (and it's covered), but we were pleasantly surprised when we were able to grab seats at the counter. Sitting at the counter ended up being part of the experience. Watching the chefs and kitchen staff work together to keep up with a packed dining room was impressive. The restaurant was buzzing, the bar was full, and the World Cup was on, creating a fun, energetic atmosphere. It can get a little loud, but that's all part of the experience. Our server, Jorge, was fantastic. Since it was our first visit, he walked us through the menu, answered our questions, and made recommendations that did not disappoint. We started with the complimentary bread service, which included sourdough, focaccia, and crispy breadsticks, all served with individual ramekins of creamy butter topped with flaky sea salt. Such a simple touch, but absolutely delicious. The Kid ordered the Famous Burger, and now I understand why it's famous. It's huge, served on grilled sourdough, and the grilled onions mixed into the burger make it incredibly juicy and flavorful. I ordered the Fried Prawns with French Fries, and they were perfectly seasoned with a light, crispy coating. The portions here are generous, so come hungry. To drink, The Kid enjoyed the Dole Whip Mocktail, and I had a Modelo. Between the food, Jorge's outstanding service, and the lively atmosphere, I can definitely see why Original Joe's is so popular. We already have a list for our next visit--the zucchini fries, calamari, and lasagna all looked amazing as they passed by our seats. One final touch I loved was the vintage-style postcard of Joe that guests can keep or mail to someone. It's a fun little detail that adds to the restaurant's classic charm. read more

See all

We here, we here, we here!!!! Peninsula/SF natives rejoice. Original Joe's is here and the ravioli holds up. No need to cross the $8 bridge anymore when cravings hit. We went for lunch and our oldest son for his first "fancy" restaurant. It definitely met all expectations. We sat outdoors and it had a very nice ambiance, while indoors has more of an old school vibe. I had the clam chowder bowl and side of ravioli (iykyk) and a mocktail. My husband had the chicken and ravioli. My son had chicken tenders and fries. We will definitely be back for round two. Good space for a birthday, date night or just for lunch! read more

Original Joe's - Mocktail - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

See all

My hubby and I came here for a date night, and we had made a reservation over the phone a few days beforehand. We were told we'd be seated outside, which I said was fine. The back patio was nicely shaded, and although I thought it might be too warm, it actually ended up being very comfortable. One thing I wish restaurants had is a designated seating area for patrons with pets. I'm not an animal person, and I knew sitting outside came with the possibility of being around dogs, but of ALL the tables on the patio, a couple with a dog just happened to be seated right next to us. Our appetizer had not arrived yet, so I asked our waiter if we could be moved because I felt uncomfortable eating my meal next to an animal. I do believe he tried everything he could to accommodate us, and the manager tried as well, but apparently there wasn't another table available anywhere. We even asked if we could sit at the bar, but were told there was a long wait. I felt like an exception could have been made given the circumstances, but at that point, I decided to just make the best of the evening. As for the food, the calamari was very good. We also ordered the ribeye and spicy rigatoni. Unfortunately, the ribeye came out medium than the medium-rare we requested. Our server was quick to take it back after we pointed it out, which we appreciated, but it took another 20-30 minutes for the replacement steak to come out. In the meantime, my hubby and I were picking at the rigatoni because we had hoped to eat the steak and pasta together, you know, a protein and a carb! The replacement steak was better, although it still wasn't quite medium-rare. The steak was eventually comped, which we appreciated. Interestingly, it was actually the woman at the table next to us (on the other side) who pointed out to our waiter that we had been waiting a long time for the replacement and said that we shouldn't be charged for the steak. lol. I appreciated her speaking up for us, because I'm honestly not sure the steak would have been comped otherwise. To be fair, we were fully prepared to pay for the replacement steak. We weren't expecting a free meal and had every intention of paying for it, as my auntie Judge Judy would say, "You ate the steak!". So while we appreciated the gesture, we certainly weren't demanding it. We ended the evening with Joe's Warm Butter Cake, at our server's recommendation, and it was delicious. The portion was generous enough for the two of us to share. Our cocktails were also very good. I had the Strawberry Sour, and my hubby had Joe's Old Fashioned. Overall, we had a nice dinner out with my husband despite a few hiccups. The staff did make an effort to accommodate us, and I appreciated that. I would definitely come back, but next time I'll be requesting indoor seating. Now I know there's a chance of being seated next to an animal outside, and that's just not something I want to deal with during dinner. read more

We love all the Original Joe locations, but this was our 1st visit in Walnut Creek. It was excellent. We were a party of 4, 2 adults & 2 teens. You can see in the receipt we got a lot of food for $198.03 The complementary bread & butter to start was high quality. Nicely salted room temperature butter. Variety of breads with distinct flavors, including sourdough. My bone-in veal parmigiana was crispy, nicely seasoned with melty cheese. The sauce was sweet, smokey, bright red, with a tang. The ravioli side with meat had a meat sauce that was more subdued, but also delicious. Reminds me of the NYC Italian-American restaurants I grew up with. The LOJ burgers were on point. Juicy meat & fresh, high quality vegetables. The gnocchi melted in your month, with a nice braised short rib sauce. Distinct from the aforementioned sauces. My wife's Joe's chopped Italian salad with chicken was good. She said it wasn't extra special, but would order it again. The drinks were very good: Arnold Palmer, Shirley Temple, & a Cherry Coke they forgot to charge me for. You have to get the Bombolini desserts with chocolate & fruit sauces...enough for the 3 of use who ate dessert. Think delicate donuts on steroids of quality. The service was excellent. I wish it were less noisy, but that's how it is in many popular restaurants. We definitely will be back. read more

See all

The Deco in this place is stunning. Almost makes you feel like you're in a Great Gatsby movie. This is one of those places you should really RSVP or not bother at all. I had a 7:00 reservation for eight people but still ended up having to wait an additional 40 minutes before getting seated. - beef carpaccio 5/5 - arancini (not the easiest to find this dish. Fried Italian ball of pure joy) 5/5 - prime rib (got medium rare and it looked okay but overall a meat was pretty tough) 3/5 My party was overall happy with all their dishes read more

Original Joe's - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Last-minute plans are the best, especially when they include late lunch plans at Original Joe's. This Original Joe's location has gorgeous Art Deco vibes, outstanding service, and delicious food. I had the Calamari Steak Dore, and it was perfection. As a side, the host recommended I choose the mashed potatoes. OMG, probably one of the best mashed potatoes I have ever had. The calamari was superb! I heard only praises of the Porterhouse and the raviolis they chose as a side. For dessert, we selected the Lemon Meringue Pie. Simply a meal that deserves a standing ovation. read more

See all

*** Stay Original *** Beautiful spacious dining room, nice patio, and accommodating bar with striking black and white framed photos and papered walls. The staff was very attentive our water glasses never hit empty, and the bread basket was quickly replenished. We weren't herded through our meal like cattle at a rodeo instead we got to relax enjoy our salads without the server hovering over us. Everything hit the table piping hot we were able to eat simultaneously no one left awkwardly staring at their empty plates wondering if they were forgotten about. I ordered the Italian chopped salad , just okay. Loved the lamb chops and truffle fries I ate so much bread I barely touched my meal, but everything was definitely good!!! read more

See all

Drinks: old fashion and watermelon sugar Apps: calamari Entree: prime rib meal and chicken parm with vodka sauce Dessert: butter cake The food was fantastic. Hot, flavorful, and plentiful. It was a great place for a causal but high quality dinner date. Big shoutout to our server Jacob (booths closest to the entrance) for the recommendations and some of the best customer service I've experienced in a very long time. Will be back next month to try brunch. read more

We are so excited about Original Joe's. It is a beautiful Italian restaurant and the decor and service are outstanding. We had a nice booth and the food flowed in beautifully. The restaurant was very busy and we enjoyed the vibe despite some wait. The portion was huge and a satisfying family style. We got the steak, spaghetti with meatball and fried calamari and they were delicious. This is definitely one of the top Italian restaurants in Walnut Creek I will keep coming back to. read more

See all

Original Joe's is relatively new to the Walnut Creek area but not a new restaurant. I've always wanted to go to the SF location but when the Walnut Creek location opened up I preferred this area due to it being closer to me. I made a reservation for 4 for dinner and the earliest I could get was 8pm. They have a strict policy that your whole party must be there in order to seat you, which I think is fair I ordered the crab cake ($26), which is one singular crab cake. It was very delicious with a creamy sauce but no where near worth the price. I also ordered the prime rib dip and truffle fries ($30$). The bread was soggy by the time it made its way to my table, I assume it sat for awhile before it was delivered to me. The food tasted pretty good but again, just not worth the price. The wait staff was friendly and got our orders correct. They were attentive to anything we needed. All in all, it's a good meal but I just don't think it's worth the hype or price. I'd rather go somewhere else. read more

See all

This place was suggested by a local and I was so happy I tried it out! I discovered they had a few locations and Walnut Creek was one of their newest locations. They have valet and you can also find street parking. The ambiance is just stunning!! They don't miss a single detail and it's very old-school meets new Italian inside. The bar is just gorgeous, as well as the rest of the restaurant. Bathrooms were immaculate. I got there a little bit ahead of the rush, around 4 PM on a Tuesday, and was able to snag a seat at the bar. All of the bartenders were phenomenal. I had them create a drink for me when I told them I prefer vodka and they created me a wonderful craft cocktail. I was torn on what to order for dinner, as there were so many options! I opted for the scallops and they were phenomenal. From start to finish, the experience was amazing! I even chatted with a few friendly locals at the bar and had a great time. I can't wait to go back and try more amazing food! read more

See all

Very busy on a week night. Went unfortunately without reservations and had to wait in line but, only for maybe 10-15 minutes before being seated at a bar table. Service was prompt and friendly. Caesar salad that we split was perfect for two people. My wife had a delicious creamy tomato sauce bow tie pasta and I had the prime rib sandwich that was huge but, it was so good I managed to finish it. It was a little pricey for we Oregonians but, probably normal for the Bay Area. We will return.. read more

My experience at the restaurants owned by this group have always been pleasant and positive. That is why it pained me to have a very mediocre experience at Original Joe's in Walnut Creek. The decor, design and ambiance are great! Consistent with their other establishments, it's simply a restaurant where someone wants to be. The menu is fairly similar to their other establishments so I had a good idea of what to order and what to expect. We ordered chicken marsala with a side of fries, chicken parmesan with a side of ravioli, and two martinis each. As it turned out the person sitting next to us also ordered the chicken marsala and I was excited for mine when I saw the size of hers. Our food took a while to come out and when it did I noticed the waiter attempted to give it to a nearby table. They explained it wasn't their order and he took the food away. Ten to fifteen minutes later the same plates were brought out and thr waiter looked around confused then hurriedly out the food in front of us and scurried away without saying a word. The chicken parmesan looked great but unfortunately the chicken marsala was a fraction of the size as the person sitting next to me had considerable fewer mushrooms. I could not help but to compare and be disappointed in mine. Dinner progressed and our eating eventually slowed down. On two occasions bus boys attempted to clear our plates, which still had food on them. The second time the guy pointed very close to the chicken parmesan, nearly touching it, and asked if we were still eating. The hosts and server did a great job. The chicken masala experience was disappointing. The bus boy experience was annoying and unpleasant. I would go back though because my experiences at their other restaurants are generally great and I hope my tepid experience at the Walnut Creek location was a one off. read more

See all