Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Original Joe's

    3.9 (750 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Original Joe's Takeout or Delivery

    Original Joe's Photos

    ORIGINAL JOE'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Classy

    You might also consider

    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

    Spaghetti and meatball
    Athena C.

    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.

    Judy H.

    *** 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!!!

    Menu
    Allison F.

    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.

    Menu
    Hillary H.

    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!

    Chicken Marsala
    Carlton C.

    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.

    New York steak
    Susana L.

    We needed a reservation for sure it was so packed . Got seated right away and our waiter Carlitos made it a great first experience. Calamari was great and not rubbery . Zucchini fries are definitely a must try . The steaks were cooked perfectly , wished they were a little thicker but they were really good. The chicken Alfredo fell a little short , it was more on the bland side . The spicy rigatoni was devoured . And the butter cake was one of my favorites . Everyone at the table got the piña colada slushie (can't remember the name ) it was really good. Definitely worth a try if you can get in. Everyone's nice and checking in with the table , not just our waiter. Just to be warned it is a little pricy but still at least a try once type of spot. Will be back for another special occasion

    Zucchini Fries with house-made basil aioli. So good!
    Suzy R H.

    Love visiting California in the summer. Spent a week with my niece and her family, she was kind enough to introduce me to this place for a late lunch early dinner. Arrived after a brief workout with a guest pass at Lifetime Fitness, whew we deserved a good meal. Promptly greeted at the door, party of two about a 10 minute wait for a Saturday around 2:00 PM. Seated at a two-top booth near the cooking/retrieval station. Love to watch the many Chefs in action. This place is amazing, our waitperson was also prompt, had to start with a (slightly) Dirty Vodka Martini, delicious. Also placed an order for Joe's meatballs and Zucchini Fries! Wow both out of this world. The Zucchini fries who perfectly breaded and crisped. We shared the Italian Chopped Salad, plenty of food for both of us. It is family style for sharing, loved all the options. Next time I will come for dinner, The 8oz Filet or the Famous Hamburger Sandwich?? Hard to choose and all looks so good. This is a must try, I was not at all disappointed with our choices in food and drink.

    Bread basket
    Jamee S.

    Beautiful upscale restaurant. I've been wanting to try this place because a friend of mine posted a picture of their zucchini fries! I had to have it!! I finally made it in for lunch with girlfriends. Service was great! Our server was attentive and courteous. We ordered cocktails and the zucchini fries first. They came out timely. While we devoured those delicious zucchini fries, we ordered a few more things for the table: Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad Italian Chopped Salad Pomodoro with Gluten-free pasta Everything was absolutely delicious! I definitely want to come back and try more dishes and dessert!

    Spaghetti: Spaghetti in meat sauce, parmesan, fresh parsley
    Marc D.

    Good food and friendly service, but a room loud enough to make me give up on conversation. Glad I went, in no rush to go back. This space used to be Stanford's, a quaint restaurant and bar where a lot of locals met up, so I came in curious. The greeting was warm and professional from the start. The chicken Marsala was good, and the mushrooms piled on top were the best thing on the table. The spaghetti was tasty. The salmon came out pretty good. No complaints on the mashed potatoes. The salad ran pricey for what showed up, a simple plate of greens with carrot ribbons and a few cucumber slices. On drinks, the Manhattan was awesome, on par with Walnut Creek prices, and the wine was good but also on par. Service was the soft spot. Our server was professional and attentive up front, but the table went quiet after the first order and drinks. Nobody came back for a second round, and by then I was ready for the check. The noise is the real story. We sat in a small two-person booth by the kitchen, fun for watching the cooks and servers move, loud enough to kill any conversation. Sit farther from the kitchen or grab an outdoor table if you want to hear your group. At 5 the place was calm. By the time we left, almost full. Book a reservation or risk a wait up to two hours on a busy day. Parking works out fine. You get three free hours at the Macy's garage, plus closer lots and disabled spots nearby. Full bar, bar seating, and plenty of indoor and outdoor tables. Worth a visit if you book ahead and pick a quieter seat. Not my first call when a friend asks where to eat tonight.

    Calamari steak, Chicken marsala, Ravioli
    Mika M.

    I walked in on a whim not expecting this restaurant to be so upscale, with the servers perfectly on the ball. We were served immediately and were constantly tended to, although it was a 100% full restaurant. I ordered the calamari steak and it had a creamy but not overly rich butter sauce. I'm already waiting until the next time I'm in the Walnut Creek area. I liked that the ambiance was on the fancier end, but had a good mix of casual vibes! The -1 star was attributed to my side (just regular fries) not arriving until we were ready to pay and leave- and still had to wait even after done paying- but it wasn't a problem for me since I was full from the decent portions and not in a rush.

    Old fashioned
    David A.

    Enjoyed a belated bday dinner at Original Joes last night. We were seated quickly for our reservation and taken to our booth. The server was exceptional and gave us a rundown of the restaurants history. We started with the zucchini fries which were delish and lighter than I expected. My wife went with the crab sandwich (delish) and fries while I chose the sole (pretty good) with mashed potatoes (exceptional). We called off the night with a slice of the lemon meringue pie which came with a sparkler to celebrate the occasion. The lemon was a nice balance of sour and sweet and the crust which complimented it nicely. Special thanks to the staff who were all incredibly friendly and welcoming!

    Salmon and cheese ravioli
    Kim T.

    Very iconic steak restaurant with a beautiful interior and mostly booths. We love a booth! Went there with my family for my granddaughter's 21st birthday dinner and it was just the thing. We had all of her favorites. Please see all the photos. Everything was delicious. Steak was done well. The only thing I didn't really care for was that the clam chowder was a little thin, but a lot of people like that I guess! I love mine thicker with less potatoes, but I ate it. Everything was yummy. It's a little high priced, but I think it was worth it. All the staff were kind and recognized you and came by the table quite often. It was a wonderful birthday dinner. We will be back!

    Beautiful fireplace room, would be nice area for private party.  My picture is not doing the fireplace justice.
    Sharine d.

    This was a 3.5 for me.... I think if we had been seated anywhere else, we would have had a much better experience. My party of two was placed in a room with a large party approx. 15+ people. This was a huge miss for a pleasant meal. Additionally, we were placed directly in front of a bar area. Between the bartenders aggressively cleaning up and what appeared to be a consultant or vender standing over the table, it was just gruelingly unpleasant. This is where we were placed after waiting around 40 minutes for our reservation time. This location is a beautiful masterpiece. They have put more money in the ambiance of the restaurant. There is a waterfall feature area, nicely decorated bar subspaces, stunning fireplace room features , etc. Service took a bit arriving, between juggling other tables. This was just continuation from the bad placement from the hostess. At the end of the day, our waiter was a solid professional (just swamped). He asked all the right questions and the service was not bad, just a few misses. Future comments: It would have been nice to receive share plates, as we shared a salad. It also would have been nice, if the crumbs had been cleaned off the table between courses. Food was good. The bread basket was nice, with an assortment of room temperature offerings. I'd have preferred warm bread, but the butter was soft and easy to spread. At the table was a seafood pasta dish, which my partner commented was delicious. I had the eggplant parmesan and it was good. This is a pretty restaurant, that I'll have to try in the summer... hopefully at a time not so busy. The placement in front of the back bar, while serving a large party there was a huge miss. If we wanted the noisy bar ambiance, we would have sat in the front bar without the 40 minute wait for our reservation slot.

    Fried shrimp, ravioli, & pesto fusilli....YUMMY! Coconut margarita & mai tai.....10/10!!!

    See all

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Athena C.
    1129
    1822
    1226

    11 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    17 days ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    14 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    16 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    14 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    17 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 day ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amie L.
    142
    78
    341

    24 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Linz C.
    297
    528
    1820

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Leeza D.
    138
    1735
    8575

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    Page 1 of 19

    Ask the Community - Original Joe's

    Most popular dishes?

    Zucchini fries and the spicy rigatoni

    What time does the lunch menu end?

    It's an all day menu only

    How are the acoustics? Difficult to hear?

    HORRIBLE. The music is too loud and the other diners are screaming at each other to be heard. I've now dined twice outside and twice inside and it's deafening.

    Are walk ins available on weekdays?

    Yes! But there may be a good wait. The bar is always open for walk ins.

    Are well behaved dogs allowed? Is there an area for them?

    Haven't seen one

    How far in advance can a reservation be made?

    2 weeks

    Does original Joe offer high chair for toddlers?

    What I'm told they do 60% reservations online or calling in, The other 40% are walk ins you might have to wait 30-40 minutes which was the case for me however totally worth it.

    Open Table shows no reservations available for lunch on any date in December. Do they take reservations for lunch? It's hard to believe that every day in December would be full.

    You may walk in and sit at bar if no table is available although usually there are some waiting time to sit at table.

    Do they offer take-out orders?

    Only two locations offer this https://www.originaljoes.com… 

    Do we need reservations for the bar?

    No reservation needed if you sit at the bar.

    Is there a Happy Hour? There is nothing on their website. If so, what are the hours?

    They do not currently have a Happy Hour.

    Is it reservations only?

    They allow walk-ins, but when we were there at 5PM on a Sunday, wait time was 2 1/2 hours! And I saw on the reviews people waited up to 4 hours. Bar is open seating, but that was packed too, so I highly recommend making a reservation.

    What is the corkage fee?

    Corkage is $25 for 750ml, $50 for a magnum.

    Any update on reopening date? Still 9/1/25?

    Unsure but they have been keeping their website updated: https://www.originaljoes.com/walnut-creek

    Do you have gluten free options? Is there a kids menu?

    Yes to gluten free, no to a kids menu

    Are kids allowed?

    Yes they are, but they're better left at home with a babysitter.

    Can we walk in right now?

    Yes. However, wait is 3 hours. If you can keep it to 2 persons and will take the counter, it can be less. Go put your name in and shop at Broadway Plaza or have a drink… 

    What are the dinner hours?

    It's on the website

    Where's the phone number for the restaurant? I want to make a reservation over the phone, not online, and unable to locate the number. Can you please share?

    Phone number is online. However they do not take reservations over the phone, it is strictly through open table

    I want to call to make reservation, but cannot find the phone number? Also when I go to online to make reservations it defaults to Westlake location.

    Check their website again! It's there :)

    View All 23 Questions

    You might also consider

    The Hideout Kitchen

    The Hideout Kitchen

    4.2
    (2.8k reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    Ambiance, Food and Service Five Stars…read more Favorites: Blackened Salmon, Ribeye and Scallops & Risotto

    Lafayette is such a gem of a place. While in the area, we stopped at this local spot on a beautiful…read more(and hot) day. We opted to not sit outside, rather inside right by the exterior seating to still get the vibes but also some AC. I love places like Lafayette where all the businesses support each other and help each other grow. Their brews on tap are mostly all local, and we grabbed some Pilsners sourced from Lafayette's new brewery, Western Flyer. So fresh and crisp. Can't wait to also check that spot out. Food-wise, we came in mid-afternoon and grabbed a Kale Pancetta salad (they pre-split the salad for us on two plates which was so nice), and for the mains, we both grabbed the Tuna Melt with fries. The salad was delicious. I'm def a tuna melt girly, and I loved the addition of the ciabatta (?) as the bread option, so fresh as well. This tuna melt comes with grapes fyi, and a few other elements mixed in. I absolutely loved it, just sharing though as I know how some tuna stans like their tuna :) This spot is clean, spacious, and perfectly situated in walking distance downtown. Would love to come back for brunch with a group of friends, or even again during the upcoming Lafayette Art & Wine Fest. Food is good, service is quick and friendly, and vibes are right. Metered parking located across the street.

    Photos
    Bar Lounge Seating
    Bar Lounge Seating
    Pulled pork silog
    Pulled pork silog
    Smoked Brisket panini (not my actual photo)

    See all

    Smoked Brisket panini (not my actual photo)
    Main Street Kitchen & Bar

    Main Street Kitchen & Bar

    3.6
    (1.4k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    A group I was leading had our lunch at Main Street Kitchen & Bar. I ordered the BLT with avocado…read moresandwich. It was very good! The reason I rated my visit 4 stars is because after I ordered my sandwich, my food server asked if I wanted fries or a salad with my sandwich without letting me know there's a charge for both sides. I thought the fries or salad went with the sandwich and I was surprised to see a $6 charge on my bill. I told my food server I thought the fries or salad went with my sandwich and I wanted the $6 charge removed, he said he'd have to ask his manager. The manager came to my table to talk to me and I told him what I stated earlier. He asked me if I looked at the menu because it showed the $6 charge for fries or a salad. I thought that question was obvious and unnecessary. The manager took the $6 charge off of my bill. I think the food server should have mentioned there was a $6 charge for the fries or salad because he's more familiar with the charges than I am. It will be a while before I return to Main Street Kitchen & Bar because of this situation.

    I gave them the opportunity to respond via email but unfortunately they didn't... So here is my…read morereview. From the beginning, the service was inattentive and frustrating. After waiting quite a while for someone to come to our table, we finally placed our drink order. I ordered a cappuccino and asked for sugar. When it didn't come, I reminded our server. She still did not bring it. I waited roughly 15 to 20 minutes, long enough for my cappuccino to get cold, before I had to physically get up and ask someone else to find our server. Only after reminding her again was the sugar finally brought over. It then took another 30 to 40 minutes for someone to come take our actual food order. Our server was unfriendly, disengaged, and gave the impression that she simply did not want to be there. There was no warmth, no apology for the delays, and no effort to check in or improve the experience. The food was also disappointing. Other than the pizza, most of what we ordered either arrived lukewarm or simply did not taste good. Between the poor service, the long waits, and the underwhelming food, the entire meal felt careless from start to finish. I understand restaurants can have difficult days, but this was not just a small delay or one missed item. It was a consistently poor experience throughout the visit, and frankly, not what I would expect from Main Street Kitchen.

    Photos
    Fresh Pappardelle with Superior Farms lamb ragu
    Fresh Pappardelle with Superior Farms lamb ragu
    Frittata benedict - I've never seen this on a menu before, worth getting.
    Frittata benedict - I've never seen this on a menu before, worth getting.
    St. George...from Alameda

    See all

    St. George...from Alameda
    The Hangout

    The Hangout

    4.4
    (343 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    The food and staff was excellent, wait time is minimal even on a Saturday, the restaurant is…read morenicely organized and cleaned. 10/10 rating.

    My sister went to The Hangout at Pleasant Hill but they put our party down for the one in Walnut…read moreCreek - how does that happen? I'm glad it did because she said there were a lot of people waiting outside at the PH location. By the time we made it to WC, our tables were ready. There were no long wait times for anyone who came after us, maybe 5 minutes. Crowds started thinning out around noon. This was the 1st time any of us dined at The Hangout and it did not disappoint. The staff was very inviting and friendly. The person who took care of us was very helpful with explaining menu items and making suggestions. We were a large party so they had to split our tables but we were right to each other. There is a spacious dining area as well as outdoor seating. Standout dishes: Chicken & waffle - BIG portion. The chicken was crispy and flavorful. It was so good, the entire plate was wiped clean. Crispy chicken with garlic noodles - delicious combination. The garlic noodles were made with real garlic, not just powder. They need to offer this as a side dish. Chicken pops - chopped up, sample size version of the chicken and waffles. Perfect for sharing. We will definitely come back to this location if we're in the area.

    Photos
    Ultimate Bacon Burger
Beef patty, romaine, avocado, tomato, Cheddar, and bacon jam
    Ultimate Bacon Burger Beef patty, romaine, avocado, tomato, Cheddar, and bacon jam
    Ube Pancake you must order. For Breakfast and Brunch.
    Ube Pancake you must order. For Breakfast and Brunch.
    Crispy Chicken Burger

    See all

    Crispy Chicken Burger

    Original Joe's - italian - Updated July 2026

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