Original Joe's - Reviews

My experience at this restaurant was largely positive, with the food truly stealing the show. We absolutely loved the meatballs, filet mignon, and spicy rigatoni, all of which were declared absolute must-haves. However, I would not recommend the crab cakes. We wished we had saved room for dessert, but overall, it's a very good place to eat if you have the time, despite the wait.

My experience at this restaurant was always great, with fantastic food and service. The awesome location and late operating hours make it a good choice for both lunch and dinner. I particularly enjoyed the brunch experience.

This restaurant is an absolute must for any real foodie. It's loud and proud, and oh so good! I was a little intimidated sitting at the counter, but I'm so happy we did. We were too busy enjoying the best Italian food we've ever purchased to take photos. This was hands down the best meal of our 4-week honeymoon, and we've eaten a lot of food! The wine recommended by our wonderful server was perfect. We savored the arancini, the farfalle pasta (OMG - drool), the veal piccante, and a side of ravioli. We even managed to squeeze in tiramisu. Everything was to die for, but that farfalle had the best tasting sauce. What impressed us most was watching the kitchen staff for nearly three hours. The volumes of respect in that kitchen are insane! Every single person worked their butts off, non-stop, in a tight space, and everyone was respected for their role. It was so glad to see the smiles and jokes amongst the staff when the rush eased. We're so glad we stumbled across you guys and were so glad we sat at the counter where all the legends belong! My partner's only words were, 'this place is special. ' Thank you, thank you!

My sister had her wedding dinner here on Monday and it was such an amazing time! The staff was so attentive and engaging. The food was delicious and the portion sizes were great! If we are ever back in SF we will come back here.

We celebrated our marriage day with family and friends, about 11 or 12 of us, at Original Joe’s in Italian Town. Despite not having a reservation, the staff were accommodating, and we enjoyed a bottle of champagne at the bar while waiting for our table. We were seated outside, and the atmosphere was great, contributing to a good time for everyone. The food and wine were both excellent, and my friends and wife really liked the overall experience. The only reason for not giving 5 stars was a small moment of discomfort when a request about the heater was met with an unexpected reaction. Our server, however, was wonderful and very professional. We ordered the pork chop, which was a bit undercooked inside, and we learned we should have asked for it to be well done. We also noticed one hair in a dish, but understood that busy restaurants can have such issues. Overall, it was a memorable evening, with great food, energy, and ambiance, despite a few minor details that could be improved. I’d definitely recommend this restaurant for special occasions or celebrations.

My experience at this restaurant was exceptional. The food, service, and ambiance were all unmatched. I highly recommend you check it out.

This is definitely one of the best places in San Francisco ❤️. While you need to make a reservation, it’s totally worth it. We enjoyed the prime rib, fried calamari, and ravioli, all of which were delicious. They also offer veal Milanese, which, as an Argentine, I’ll definitely be back to try! The service was good too.

My experience at this restaurant was largely positive. The food was very good, and the service was top-notch. I also appreciated the extremely clean eating environment, noting that even the bathrooms were spotless. I rated the atmosphere a four only because the place can be very loud at times, which could detract from an intimate setting. We enjoyed the veal milanese (which they made upon request even though it wasn't on the lunch menu), a side of meat ravioli, and spaghetti and meatballs. We will definitely return when we are in San Francisco again.

My experience at this establishment was truly wonderful. The service was outstanding, with Georgette providing the best service I’ve ever had! I highly recommend this place.

I had a fabulous time at this restaurant, nestled in the Little Italy neighborhood. It's quite popular, and we arrived around 8 pm hoping for a seat, but the wait was 1 hour and 45 minutes. To avoid this, I recommend getting there early to put your name down or booking through OpenTable a week or a couple of days in advance. The burger was absolutely fabulous – easily in my top 3 burgers ever! It's a juicy, stovetop burger served on a crunchy, chewy sourdough bun, offering an Italian American take on a butter burger. We debated between pasta and the burger, and a local confirmed it's the best burger in the city, which I agree with. It was worth the wait after a long day of walking around SF! My friend and I decided to try and snag "open seating. " While some people are quick to grab tables, the server was attentive and eventually seated us. However, it's best to come prepared to wait. It's super worth it though!