For traditional Italian food, this is the most genuine Italian food around it's here at Original Joe's Restaurant. I can still remember the taste of the spaghetti with marinara sauce with a slight hint of rosemary.. I haven't been there in years but my mouth is watering just thinking about this food I had as a child with my family . I would crawl in & out of the booth while watching the cooks toss pans full of delicious food like jugglers in at the circus. Everyone was talking, laughing, eating ravioli and drinking red wine. If you're hungry for authentic Italian food, Original Joe's is the place to go I only wish they delivered to Santa Cruz.! read more

I have been a loyal customer since 2000 and have always appreciated the welcoming, local-bar atmosphere your team creates. Back when Phil and Rust was behind the bar, they set a high standard--he was friendly, accommodating, and made every regular feel valued. Unfortunately, my recent experience with a new bartender, Erin, fell far short of those standards. Rather than offering helpful service, she automatically poured and charged me for the most expensive wine on the menu without asking or clarifying first. To make matters worse, her approach felt presumptuous regarding both the service and the expectation of a top-tier tip, without actually delivering quality service. As someone who has supported Original Joe's for over two decades, I was extremely disappointed by this experience. I value my long-standing history with your establishment, but this visit felt transactional and dismissive. I hope this feedback is helpful as you continue training your team. read more

Food Quality 5/5 Ambiance 4/5 old school vibe Service 2/5 Recommendation Yes! Me and my husband popped in for dinner at the bar. We love the bar where the food prep is so you can see all the action and marvel how well the cooks manage the incoming orders. We were fortunate to find two seats directly behind the meat cook around 7:30 pm. When we sat down we were immediately brought water and asked what we might like to drink. My husband stayed with water and I added an ice tea. Our waiter, Travis was the only disappointed of the meal. He seemed frazzled and irritated, clearly he wasn't committed to delivering good service until a complaint was waged with his boss. Unfortunately, we have had service by the same gentleman last summer, and the quality of service from him hadn't improved and has declined. We love Original Joe's and look forward to eating at this restaurant each time we're in the area. We had to report Travis to the manager after we were sitting for 45 minutes, no ice tea or water refill or the garlic bread we ordered for an appetizer. The following is a prime example of subpar service you would never expect from a waiter occurred when we noticed my husband's unique order of liver and onions was done and he been sitting in the warming area for at least 15 minutes. I struggled to get Travis's attention and waived to him to come by as he was walking around, seeming out of sorts but not doing anything or looking in our direction if we needed anything. When I finally got Travis to come over, I told him the liver order was ready we could see it and if he wouldn't mind refilling tea and water. You will not believe Travis's response to us, "yes your order may be ready but I'm busy now with other orders." What's telling is Travis didn't say, I'm sorry and I will walk one foot to reach over and hand us the plate or, I'm sorry I'll be with you in a minute. Instead, he made us feel like we were an inconvenience to him by asking him to do his job!! My husband and I were floored and asked to speak to the manager at that point. Meanwhile another 10-15 minutes later and not surprisingly;when the manager came over to speak to us our order suddenly appeared and ice tea and water were refilled. Travis, frequently came over and inquired about service after he saw us with the manager and not ONE TIME BEFORE! The food is consistently good which I would continue to recommend. Travis is a liability, having been served by him twice it's disappointing to see no improvement within a year. read more

Original Joe's - Calf liver with bacon and grilled onions and a side of spaghetti with meat sauce. My husband's favorite - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

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A SJ iconic joint featuring some delicious bites this side of the East coast. Feels like you stepped back in time to some old school eatery in NYC in the 50s. The service was prompt and our server was not only patient but super awesome! My bambino burger while delicious and charbroiled lacked seasoning by like a lot and didn't come with any lettuce or fixings and it lacked flavor like mayo or something but meat was cooked to order and the fries were delicious. My husband's dish was so yummy and had some spice which with the fennel from the sausage made for a tasty bite. The garlic bread (not featured) was a bit meh and the calamari was delicious (not pictured) but a bit small for the price. Why the 3 stars: minus 1 star for difficult parking options, there's a few but all were not easy to get to the one across the street fills up so you gotta circle around. Minus 1 star for loud... we had to shout to hear one another lol but who needs to converse when you're there to eat? If my food burger had some seasoning, garnishes or sauce to add flavor I would have pardoned the loud part. They have a full bar but also non alcoholic options, we see why they survived many changes in this area and hope the continue to do so... just please season your burgers! read more

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Second time to this specific branch and for whatever reason, I feel like the Walnut Creek one is better (the two branches have the same name but are not affiliated...it's like a sister branch type of thing). Anyways, we came in during Fanime weekend and got here relatively early so the wait wasn't too bad. Around 20 minutes or so. The waiter was nice and we ordered our food fairly quickly. I got the steak and sausage pasta, a side of mushrooms, and my husband had the chicken parmesan. It's good, but it's I suppose nothing to write home about. It's like your usual American Italian fare. The side of mushrooms was more bland than what I would've liked it to be. The pasta was fine, the steak itself was thoroughly cooked for better or worse. Better for me currently since I'm pregnant. But on a normal situation, something more tender would've been nice. The restaurant however is...loud...and I mean really loud. Because of the restaurant's anniversary, they had live music and it made conversing difficult. And with everyone trying to talk over the music, well, you could probably see where this goes. Would I come back? Maybe? It's a good choice during Fanime. But I wouldn't be going out of my way for it. read more

Original Joe's - Chicken Parmigiana with Ravioli - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

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It has been a minute since we enjoyed a meal at OJ's and it brought back memories of wonderful meals and special occasions there. Our waiter was professional and efficient. Our meals were as delicious as we remembered. My husband won't order Veal Sec anywhere else! My halibut and side of ravioli were delicious. Bread is now at an extra cost--$5-but an important part of what makes Original Joe's a legacy in dining. I wish it was open for lunch on weekends, at least--seating now begins at 4pm daily. Reminiscent of Rat Pack dining, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. It's truly a special dining experience in Downtown San Jose! read more

Original Joe's - Grilled Halibut and Veal Scallopini Sec with Mushrooms with sides of Cheese Ravioli. - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

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To cut to the chase, I've always felt that Original Joe's food has never been worth the price. Sure, they give you large portions but the flavors are just okay. Also, they've messed up my order most of the time I've either eaten there or had their food delivered. It baffles me how consistent they are with giving me the wrong meal, and how often it arrives undercooked. I cannot recommend this place, and will never eat there ever again. read more

Cool, old, historic vibe. Big open dining room. Place was packed on a weekday night. Waiter was awesome. Kept a funny, light attitude on a busy night. Service didn't suffer because of it either. Had to try the chicken parm. Portion was large with two chicken breast. Good flavor and cheesy sauce. Comes with a choice of side and I selected the ravioli. I'd eat the chicken parm again but would choose a different side. Ravioli wasn't anything special. Would repeat. read more

Original Joe's - Chicken Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

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Came here on a Friday night and called ahead to put my name down. They told me the wait would be 30-45 minutes, so I arrived about 30 minutes later, but my name still hadn't been called. I ended up waiting about 50 minutes after arriving before being seated. Once we ordered, it took another 45 minutes for the food to come out. I got the chicken parmigiana with spaghetti, and my friend ordered the veal parmigiana with spaghetti on the side. It tasted like your typical parmigiana which was decent, but nothing particularly memorable. Also got the chocolate eruption cake. It was around $14-$15 which tasted okay. Overall, I'm not sure it lived up to the hype, at least in my opinion, and I probably wouldn't come back. read more

Original Joe's - Chocolate Eruption Cake - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

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This was my first time at Original Joe's in San Jose, and it turned into one of the worst dining experiences I've had. I made a reservation for 7:00 PM, but we weren't seated until 7:50 PM. We were told it was because a table had been sitting there since 5:00 PM and the server hadn't cleared it out. At some point, restaurants need to normalize asking guests to leave when they've clearly finished and are just loitering--especially when there are reservations waiting. I had a comedy show to get to at 9:15 PM, so I specifically made a 7:00 PM reservation expecting we'd have plenty of time to eat. Instead, it was already 8:30 PM and we still hadn't received our food. For a place that requires reservations, the timing and coordination were extremely disappointing. I ordered the baked lasagna. It was alright, but nothing memorable, and I couldn't even finish it because we were so pressed for time. To make things worse, it was also my friend's birthday, and I felt bad that he had to spend it sitting around waiting so long just to eat. Overall, the long wait, poor table management, and rushed meal completely overshadowed the experience. Not a great first impression, and unfortunately not a place I'd rush back to. I prefer the Daly City location much more. read more

Original Joe's - Baked Lasagna - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

This place is 5 stars and the host is awesome ....been coming here for 25 years and I will continue

I went on a Saturday evening around 6 and ommg was it crowded! I didn't have a reservation, but thankfully there was seating at the bar! Which I think is so much fun since you get to watch all the cooks! This was my first time going and overall had a great experience. I got Joes chicken soup which was flavorful and loaded w chicken and veggies. The Cobb salad was huge and delish, I had to take it home. My friend got the chicken parm w the baked potato and loved it. Also got a Christmas cookie martini. Wait staff were so friendly and for it being so busy, we didn't have to wait too long for anything. Travis was our waiter and so great. Overall, I would definitely be back! read more

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I don't understand the ratings for this restaurant. First of all, we've tried Original Joes in Sf, Westlake, and Marin Joes. All three are awesome. I saw the ratings for this restaurant in San Jose, I was a little concerned that it wouldn't be as good as the others. Has the restaurant was extremely busy on a Sunday afternoon, we sat at the counter David H was an awesome server. He was constantly moving taken care of multiple tables and the counter. He kept checking on us, refilling our drinks, and did a fabulous job. The rib steak was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The vegetables were completely on point and the baked potato was perfect. We started with a Caesar salad, which was very good, and ended with the apple pie al a mode, which was delicious. All in all, a great experience we will be back, no doubt. read more

I had a Caesar salad with grilled chicken on top. The dressing was too lemon forward. The other people in my party had an Asian chicken salad and chicken piccata with a great bottle of Pinot Noir wine. I just felt like the quality of the food could've been much better. But the service was spectacular. I can't say that I would go back. The original Joe's and Walnut Creek, has much better food. The chefs take more care to make it taste really good so I would try that one before I would come back here ever. read more

Came here for dinner with a group of friends. Service was awesome and the waiter was super friendly. He made sure we had our drinks, appetizers and that all our food was ready. Food-wise, I will only give it 3 stars because I felt like some of the items weren't worth the price. The shrimp cocktail appetizer was good since the shrimp was fresh and plump, but I was little bummed out that it only came with 3 pieces. The burrata salad with fruit was also very mediocre and not sure if I would order it again. I ordered the prime rib, which was actually decent. It was cooked well, super soft and I liked how it wasn't salty at all. My entree was fantastic, but not sure if I would come back here again just to eat prime ribs. read more

Loved the look of this place from the outside,& just had to try it. It looks like it has hardly changed in decades, and I love that. It has real character. When we went in, the host told us there would be a 20-minute wait for a table, or we were welcome to sit up at the counter. So glad we did, it was a real old-school experience, and we saw up close just how hard and non-stop the Joe's staff work! We had the delicious bread& butter while we waited on our entrees... chicken piccata for him, and a spring salad with broiled chicken for me. Both were delicious, as were the sides. I'd definitely go back if I was in San Jose again read more

Original Joe's - Joe's exterior - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

Our server that night didn't seem to want to be there. He was a young guy, and he never introduced himself to us. He didn't even check on us even once. Food was ok, it could be better. read more

I loved the food, old time vibe & service. This place has been here since the mid 50's and has remained a solid dining spot though all the ups and downs of San Jose. Added our name to the wait-list as we started our hour drive from home. Busy for a Sunday night at 5pm. Calimari Steak for me (2) lightly battered, pounded cakes with a coleslaw like tartar sauce, delicious. Garlic bread with soo much garlic, I'm glad all four of us shared it. Mixed vegetables, cauliflower,beans, zucchini,steamed, light butter sauce a good match to entries. Chicken Piccata, generous amount of chicken breast (can be ordered bone in) tender, light sauce, plenty to share. Rock Salad, subbed crab for the shrimp, avocado,1000 island,soo good. Prime Rib. Flintstones size serving, cooked perfectly, leftovers for sure. Reminded me of my parents bringing us out to Bay Area classic restaurant's,now gone like Spengers in Berkeley. Service was quick and attentive but let us enjoy the meal unrushed. Seating at the counter allows you to watch the chef's at work. Big menu worth returning numerous times. read more

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Centrally located and the portions are massive. Food is decent at best however. They will be very popular as the value is there but there's nothing on the menu worth raving about. Service and management nice enough, bar prices reasonable, it's ok for a family function read more

Food was the biggest fail of my rating. Ravioli was so plain. Chef boyardee makes better ravioli than this. The chicken parm was really plain, not very warm. The server was nice but didn't bring any bread. Very disappointed. Go to Morton's across the street instead. read more

Original Joe's - Baked potato - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

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Listen, I've been to two other locations= Daly City and San Francisco and this location isn't it. How do they not take reservations? Albeit we went in the evening before the Super Bowl and had to wait 2 hours to be seated and then another 30 minutes to order. I was hangry!! Yes, it was expected to be busy but then they should've staffed accordingly. The ambiance feels like it's just a di 3 stars because food was good but the rest just ok. read more

First of all, shout out to Patrick. Huge portions compensate for price. People complaining about bread are kinda silly. Plenty of places charge for bread. It was a vibe. Not the best I've ever had but a very solid Italian comfort meal with huge portions. I got bread, parm and 2 beers for $55. It was a nice place to eat after the conference I was at and a much more local vibe than some alternatives read more

This restaurant is really good! The only thing holding me back from giving 5 stars is the fact that it's extremely overpriced. The taste of the food was great! We got the Veal Scallopini with fresh mushrooms. We wanted it over pasta and ravioli which I was told they normally do, however, they charged me for an extra side and there wasn't much spaghetti. The service was exceptional Randy Z took great care of my table and made it a great time! I would highly AVOID the garlic bread it was $16 +tax for the most mediocre garlic bread I've ever had. We asked to get it with cheese and the cheese was awful. It tasted like Singles white American cheese which wasn't even fully melted. The ambiance inside is very pleasing! read more

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Solid 3 Stars. First time at Original Joe's and I have mixed feelings. The food was tasty but lacked creativity. My Steak Sandwich was too rare and served on a toasted bread roll. That's it, just meat and bread. Flavorful but just dull. Accompanied by steak fries. I actually used ketchup as a condiment for my sandwich. I know a lot of people would probably kill me if they saw this but I had to work with what they gave me. We started with Fried Calamari, no complaints. The other entrées were Chicken Parm and Pasta Marinara with a giant Meatball. Simple and tasty but lacking presentation. Our server was David and he did a great job. His knowledge of the menu was substandard and he showed genuine concern and professionalism. We appreciate David and that's why we tip our waiters 25%. We arrived around 7pm on a Saturday evening. Plenty of parking options in the area. No wait to be seated even though it was very busy in the restaurant . Original Joe's has an attached bar called The Hideout. Full bar with flat screens to enjoy the game. We may return to try it someday. So to reiterate, our first visit at Joe's was good. Food lacked pizzazz, but is decent. My dull Steak Sandwich and fries set me back $35. Maybe some veggies and condiments to accompany it would be a good idea? The Pasta Marinara was flavorful not too salty and great portion size. Chicken Parm was simple yet tasty. Our Tiramisu was unfortunately inedible. Something was bitter and off putting in it so we sent it back. Oh well, no biggie. I look forward to returning someday. read more

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Great food quality and service. It is very old school but cozy place . Try different options and definitely try the desserts

Having grown up in San Jose, original joes has been an institution of the city. Classic Italian food. With the renaissance of Original Joe's in the foodie blogger space, I decided it was time to try it myself. I was underwhelmed. The menu for this location is not the same as the Original Joe's in sf, our server clarified. No zucchini fries, no espresso martinis, no spicy rigatoni with vodka sauce , but traditional Italian food. Ambiance was chill; I felt like this could've been the Sunday dinner spot for families. Seeing the photos of how the store and its team evolved over time was nice to see. I asked if they had their sourdough burger, the waiter clarified this menu is not the same menu as the stores in sf. I had the Joe's special burger with garlic fries and my bf had the spicy rigatoni with a meatball on the side. While waiting for my food, we deduced that the sourdough burger is actually called the Original Joe's burger. On the menu, there was no distinction of what type of bread it was served with! Ugh, anyway my burger was cooked well done which is fine, but the garlic fries were good! My burger came with a fried egg, bacon, and spinach, but it looked like the spinach was chopped really fine and mixed into the patty.. my bf was also surprised with how his spicy rigatoni appeared. From the pictures online, he expected a bright orange vodka sauce but he received something else. The pasta was fine, but not what he was expecting. We didn't receive any complimentary bread either, unlike what past reviews mentioned; maybe that's no longer a thing at this location? In the menu, there was a blurb of the history of how this location came to be in San Jose, and I get the feeling the owners want to preserve the restaurant a certain way based on their menu. Large pasta portions, classic drinks, lots of wine options. read more

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The place was packed, but the wait wasn't too bad--about 20 minutes. We did have to wait a while for our host, followed by another long wait for the food. I ordered the linguini with clams in white sauce; the portion was generous, but the flavor was just okay and a bit too creamy for my taste. I'm glad to see the place doing well, though I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon. read more

Original Joe's - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

Love everything about the place, always come here and will continue to come. Go to plate is always Rigattoni read more

Original Joe's - Steak and Sausage Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

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I came here for dinner after my half marathon run a few weeks ago and we had a great time. Me and my family sat in this tight spaces booth which was super tight for 7 people. I really wished the host seated us at an actual table. I should also mention that when I placed my name on the list for 7 people, the host threw out a random wait time of about 45 mins to an hour, as if he didn't want us to stick around. I stood my ground and told him we'd wait since we're up next to sit anyway. We got seated in about 3 mins lol. The food was pretty good all around. It's an old classic Italian style cuisine with an American touch. Everyone seems to know everyone in here with lots of regulars. The crowd seems to be a bit older which is fine. I enjoyed my 18 oz Prime Rib with freshly grated horseradish. The rib was pretty solid with a good amount of fat. Our kids enjoyed their spaghetti which was huge in size. The garlic bread is super authentic with literally crushed garlic and just a touch of butter on the fresh baguette. My wife and I loved the Caesar salad too; it's fresh lettuce with their house made dressing. I can really taste the lemon with anchovies inside the Caesar dressing. Overall, I understand the reputation Original Joe's has. It's a Bay Area staple in which I'm so glad I got to be part of history. The food is good and must be consistent with the amount of people coming in and out. I'd definitely come back again! read more

We had a great experience here overall. Our server brought out complimentary bread with butter, and you can also make your own olive oil and balsamic dip at the table. Our table ordered the mostaccioli, steak with a side of ravioli, burger, and steak & sausage rigatoni. Everything tasted delicious, and the portion sizes were huge. We all ended up with leftovers and are already looking forward to finishing them later. The service was friendly and attentive, even though the restaurant was busy. Our server made sure we had everything we needed, and was kind enough to bring us chili pepper flakes and fresh Parmesan. Nothing felt rushed or forgotten. The ambiance was spot on: dim enough to feel like a fine dining experience without being too dark to see your surroundings. On top of that, the menu prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you get. I'd definitely recommend trying this place if you're looking for a more elevated version of Maggiano's or The Cheesecake Factory. We'll absolutely be back. read more

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We had a show at the San Jose Civic . We Love to stop at OJ for a meal . We Arrived at a perfect time . Just before 5pm on a Sunday night . Our tummies weren't up to Italian food . So, we ordered Halibut w/ veggies. I ordered the 8oz . Filet Mignon. W/ a Baked potato. We ended up sharing sides . It was a perfect combination for us both . As always food and service was fabulous! Such a great meal everyone we go ! read more

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Perfect as usual love this place . Best burger you can get . Ravioli are incredible as well . Enjoy read more

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Hate to say it, but the once reliably delicious staple Original Joes has really lost its flair. Everything was meh except for the service. The staff was friendly and attentive! 10/10 for that aspect of my dine in experience!! Busy as always, but seated in 30 mins at a walk in on a Friday is pretty good! read more

Original Joe's - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

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This is a staple in San Jose. Must order chicken piccata (I like to have it with angel hair pasta). My boyfriend likes ordering steaks. I don't really like the ravioli's here personally (I am spoiled with getting La Villa too frequently) but everyone else I talk to absolutely love them. You have to get the garlic bread!!!! You will scare away the vampires for a week though FYI. read more

Came in to celebrate and have dinner with loved ones. Randy was our waiter. He was a great waiter! I ordered the chicken soup. They were out of noodles and he actually cut some noodles for my soup! That is a first for me! Others ordered Spaghetti Pomodoro with sausage, bruschetta, Joes Special Burger, Chicken Parmasan, and dessert was spumoni, coffee chip ice cream, caramel apple pie with ice cream and Tiramisu. Everything was great. The restaurant was busy and Randy handled it well. Coffee is super strong! Be prepared. Everyone loved it. All in all this age old restaurant is still going strong after 70 years and we enjoyed it this time as much as the first time over numerous decades ago. read more

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I have been going here for over 50 years and I have to say I'm extremely disappointed with the service and overall management. Yes, the food quality (Steak Burger & Meat Ravioli) is there signature dishes, but they can raise the bar with there expedited delivery of food. Our server was a man (in his 30's) came across with a pompous attitude. I asked him for the steak burger on the signature french roll, and he was debating with me, oh we have a new roll on Ciabatta, ok, I "prefer" the french roll, and was going back and forth with me. Hey, if I'm the customer and paying for the meal, I decide, please don't get nasty with me and roll your eyes. My wife ordered a salad which came out quick, mine was a ridiculously "30 min". Service was slow at a snails pace. Spoke to the manager on duty who rolled his eyes and did not care with my feedback. The owners should get involved as this San Jose staple is slipping as you can see with a 3.0 rating here on Yelp. Now I know why I don't come here often. :( read more

Original Joe's - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

So underrated! Two words... TUNAMELT + SPUMONI My husband and I had a wonderful experience. Brielle was our server (amazing!) Beautiful restaurant and the food was so goood! read more

Not from SJ and this is my first time here. I've been hearing a lot about this place during my stay. All that was said is that you can't pick the wrong dish. Customer service was great from the check in. Once I was seated, I was assisted by Brielle and her amazing energy. She helped me pick a dish and the steak did not disappoint. Brielle was timely & constantly made sure everything was going well. The vibe of this place is nice (even has football on) lol. I'll say this... you don't need to go to Morton's and pay top dollar to get good steak. I'm full. I'm happy. I'll be coming back! read more

Original Joe's - 27oz steak, perfectly cooked: medium - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

Took an adult refreshment break during San Jose Jazz Festival opening night at the bar. While bartenders always attentive and personable, we do miss Uncle Phil. Didn't order food this time. When we do dine as a couple, we prefer eating at bar or counter. Usually sharing a porterhouse when craving steak. read more

Original Joe's - Margarita and Chianti Classico Reserva - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

Last night, after attending an event at the SAP Center, we decided to have dinner at Original Joe's. In hindsight, the lack of a wait at 10:30 PM should have been a warning sign. We were seated immediately and ordered drinks. My husband asked for a Vespa but was told they were out of Lillet, so he had to choose something else. I ordered a gin martini and was surprised to receive it with a lemon peel instead of olives--an odd touch. For our meal, I ordered the Joe's Special with mushrooms, while my husband chose the veal Parmesan with ravioli. I also had a cup of minestrone, which was delicious and brought back fond childhood memories of dining there with my grandparents. My husband's Caesar salad was just okay--not as good as I remember it being. His veal Parmesan was well-prepared, but my Joe's Special left something to be desired. The mushrooms were served whole rather than sliced, which seemed like an unnecessary oversight. The dish also seemed lighter on eggs than usual--perhaps due to rising costs. Overall, the food was about the same as I remember, but it lacked the care and passion that once made it special. I don't think I'll be returning anytime soon, which is disappointing. Maybe I'll give it another try in ten years--if it's still around. read more

Original Joe's - Joe special with mushroom - Italian Near Me - San Jose, California

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