Love this place, food as good as in the City or Westlake. Good location plenty of parking. You can have your choice of casual peaceful seating or the hustle and bustlle but entertaining counter seating. Pricey but most entrees care be shared with plenty of food. read more

Veal parmigiana and chicken Marsala were awesome. Service was awesome as usual and old fashioned very satisfying

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. read more

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5/5 Went on a Sunday and it was somewhat busy, but we asked if we could sit at the bar and got seated and served ASAP. We started off with drinks and they were amazing. They also offer a variety of breads in their bread basket which was a nice touch and really good. The service from start to finish was excellent and the food was just as amazing. Bathrooms were clean as well, which always matters. Overall a great experience and definitely a spot we would come back to. read more

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

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This place was a huge hit with our family. It feels as if you've been transported to 1050's San Francisco or New York. It feels swanky, high-end, and vintage inside. I regretted not wearing a feather boa to dinner. At times I wondered if The Rat Pack could be found in one of these booths. The main dining room is almost entirely large booths. They feel private but also right in the mix with all the fun. The menu is extensive. There's something for everyone. They even had great options for kids and gluten-free options. The wait staff were true professionals. They knew just what to recommend, they were charming, polite, and made us feel like we were special guests at an "it" spot. The whole evening was a blast and we overstayed our welcome, not wanting to leave the glam of that old Hollywood vibe. The food was absolutely amazing. Everything looked and smelled so delicious that even our kids (picky eaters) wanted to try it all. Plus, they pit a real live sparkler in your dessert if you're celebrating. I just loved every moment. Next time I'm going dressed as Audrey Hepburn. read more

Always amazing here!! Perfect Memorial Day lazy lunch! Caprese martinis, the BEST beef carpaccio of my life, and this amazing new salad! The Chestnut St chopped salad (no egg)- huge bowl of chicken, cheese, greens, tomatoes, bacon, beets, and avocado with a light vinegarette! Yum! read more

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I came on a Sunday for a late lunch with my best friend. It was busy--about a 45-50 minute wait for a table--so we opted to sit at the counter instead. I've been to the Westlake location a few times, so I found myself comparing the experience. For two people, we ordered arancini and meatballs to start, plus two side salads, fries, and two pastas: a spicy rigatoni with chicken and the marry me farfalle with chicken. Overall, the food was solid. The spicy rigatoni was a standout as always. The arancini was perfectly crisp without being oily, and I'd order it again. The meatballs were also good. The farfalle was enjoyable, though the pancetta pieces were quite large and a bit too fatty--I would've preferred them smaller and more rendered. The side salads were skippable, with basic dressing and nothing memorable. The ambiance was lively, but service felt a bit inattentive. We had to ask for menus twice, and a nearby table received bread while we didn't. read more

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3.5 stars! Service was amazing, everyone was super friendly, charismatic, and helpful. I give them 5 stars for that The pasta and food were okay, meats like the steak and lambchops were a bit bland. Pastas were ok - but the lasagna was probably the best. Butter cake is a must! Glad to see that Walnut Creek has this option though for special occasions! read more

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Have I now been to all of them? Love the portions , service and ambience always Old school Italian ( though the sauces have sugar added and that's not Italian), but the huge portions and expected consistent service. Thanks folks read more

Jefferson was our servers name. He was polite, on top of everything(refilling our drinks without us asking), funny. We got the calamari and truffle fries. Both come in a large mountain order. Calamari has tartar and cocktail sauce. Very crispy. Fries had an aïoli sauce, the fries were crispy and very hot. I got the prime rib dip sandwich. Very tender prime rib, nice soft bread and it came with a side of horseradish and Ajou. Also a side of fries. This restaurant makes you feel like you're in NY. We sat outside but they had heat lamps and a fire place. Very cozy. My Wife and Daughters had a nice time. I'll be back read more

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Decided to come here randomly on a late Saturday morning. The place was busy. Our choices were either to sit in the bar area, very close to the other people already seated or in the patio. We opted for the patio. Service was nice as expected. The place seems a little fancy. We were seated and 1 waiter brought us waters. (You have a choice of tap or bottled sparking water) I picked tap. Another waiter came by to give us menus and bread. Bread was good and the butter that came with it spread easily on the bread. (It wasn't hard, just out of the fridge) And then another waitress came to take our order. I got the cheeseburger and fries. Food came out at a decent time. It was very tasty. Our waters were constantly filled. It was warm that day and they had the ceiling fans cranked up. There was a lot of shade, but some areas had a lot of sun poking through. I'm a people watcher and noticed that a lot of their patrons order dishes to share. I'd definitely do that the next time. The waiter packed our leftovers and cleared the table. Then we waited...and waited for someone to bring us our check. It seemed to be at least 15-20 min before we got it. For some reason, we had multiple waiters waiting on our table. The next time we come, I hope to be able to sit inside. I was looking at the open kitchen and huge bar from the patio. For bdays and celebrations they bring out a slice of cake with a huge sparkler. I wanted to try the butter cake but I was too full. I didn't know what type of restaurant this was, the name makes me think of a diner/coffee house. (I didn't look them up before going, we just went) I'll definitely be back. Food was yum! read more

Original Joe's - Cheeseburger and fries (got the burger sauce on the side) - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

1st time here. Had lunch for our son's bday. Had a great time. Service was quick and efficient. We were waited on by Andres but there's a full team behind him making sure our plates are cleared and drinks filled. Food was great, we ordered the following: Calamari - a bit heavy on the breading but seasoned perfectly. Also tasted very fresh, almost on par with calamari you buy along Fisherman's Wharf in the city. Dungeness Cocktail - fresh but bland. Not worth it. Salmon - perfectly cooked. Seafood Fra Diavolo - surprisingly spicy! Loved it. Seafood was fresh as can be. Clams Linguine - also very fresh. Simple, clean delicious. Chicken Alfredo - I mean this is a classic dish. Our birthday boy finished his plate! Buttercake - nice that they put a sparkler for our son's bday. Very nice. Overall had a great time! read more

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

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We came in as a party of 9 and ordered a variety of plates, appetizers, and desserts--unfortunately, I didn't get photos of everything, so the pictures don't do it justice! To start, the appetizers were excellent. We had the zucchini fries, crab cakes, arancini, and calamari, and everything was fresh, flavorful, and really well done. For my entrée, I ordered the prosciutto spicy vodka parmigiana with a side of spaghetti. The dish itself leaned quite salty, and the spaghetti was a bit dry and lacked that "umph" in flavor. Even the kids at our table didn't enjoy the spaghetti and meatballs and ended up switching to something else. That said, some dishes truly stood out. The braised short ribs were absolutely incredible--tender, melt-in-your-mouth, and easily a must-try. It's definitely a signature dish. My husband's veal piccata was also very well prepared and delicious. The service was spectacular from start to finish, especially given the size of our group. The staff was attentive, friendly, and made the experience even better. Overall, it's a great spot for a date night or drinks with a nice dinner. While not every dish hit the mark, the highlights and service definitely make it worth visiting. read more

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Friday night and it was packed! Despite how busy it was, the servers were very attentive and patient, we got our food quickly and our group was very well accommodated. The food and drinks were delicious, we ordered a bunch of items with my favorites being the esperesso martini, the giant mound of zucchini fries, and the butter cake I now have dreams about. That first bite into the cake was phenomenal, I highly highlyyyy recommend ordering it!! The bread baskets have a good variety of freshly baked breads and our food was overall really tasty. It was a great night of eating! read more

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A great spot to add to Walnut Creek dining! The servers are very attentive. I was very surprised how good the food was. The spaghetti and meatballs and the carbonara sol we're incredibly delicious. We found the steak to be a bit tough cooked for a medium rare. I would definitely recommend booking a reservation months out ! They're are completely booked for the next few months read more

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The restaurant itself is beautiful and the trendy bar area has a self-seating section. I've been to the other original joes location many times but have never ordered the zucchini fries. I finally tried it today and I can confidently say they are life changing. First of all the presentation, IT IS MASSIVE and heads will turn to stare at it. The three of us didn't even put a dent in it, it could easily feed a family of 5. What I love about it is that it doesn't taste or feel greasy, and the light but crunchy batter is never went soggy. It also comes with a creamy green sauce and lemon on the side. 11/10. Service was friendly but minus one star because I never got the salad i ordered. read more

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

After finally dining here, I can understand why it's so hard to get a reservation. Everything about the place is classy. The decor is very elegant, and you're treated like VIPs from the moment you enter. The food was excellent from the first bite of bread to the last cup of cappuccino. There was one tiny mishap with the salad that came with my chicken Milanese, but they took good care of me. They redid my entree and didn't charge me for it. Very classy. What we ordered: + Joe's spicy rigatoni - this was so delicious. It's creamy and a bit cheesy, with just the slightly bit of spiciness. The curved rigatoni held the sauce perfectly. + Meatballs - tender, moist, and delicious + Chicken Milanese - breaded chicken breast with an arugula salad. Nicely seasoned and delicious with a squeeze of lemon. + Bread basket (complimentary but worth a mention) - there's about 3 different types of bread, including focaccia, sour dough, and a toasted thin cracker-like bread. The butter is soft and salted. + Cappuccino - Nice! Overall, a wonderful experience, and now I want to bring everyone here. read more

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My friend and I sat outside on a lovely spring day and we both ordered the meatball plate. It was very good and the portion was enough for a light lunch. Great atmosphere and service. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

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

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I came here for lunch on a Wednesday and it was great. The service was good and surprisingly the place was full on a weekday. We had the fried zucchini appetizer which was very good and crispy but a large portion! Definitely good for a group. I had the crab roll which came with a lot of crab! And the chips were actually very good and crispy without being too hard or oily. No photo of the pastrami dip my husband got but also extremely delicious. read more

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

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Original Joe's is a local chain of restaurants in SF's North Beach and Daly City's Westlake. Our friend wanted us to try their new location in Walnut Creek and made reservation for our party of 8 at noon on a recent Saturday. This location is on S. Main off Broadway Plaza. We parked in the Broadway Plaza parking lot, which is a short walk to the restaurant. The restaurant was packed and we were seated in the outside patio. I'm glad we were seated here as it was mellower than the louder and busier inside. After ordering our drinks, we checked out the menu and decided to share two starters: Calamari with house made tartar and cocktail sauce - it was good. Lightly battered and crispy. Zucchini Fries - a heaping portion of fries topped with parmigiano Reggiano and a house made lemon basil aioli for dipping. Never had these types of fries. Cut shoestring style and they were light and delicious. The served a complementary bread basket with butter. It consisted of sourdough slices, Focaccia squares and a bread crisp slice. House French bread - love warm bread and butter. So good that we asked for refills. I had the Joe's House made Ravioli - a generous portion of beef and spinach filled raviolis in a meat sauce topped with Parmesan Reggiano. I just wished the raviolis had a thicker filling. Other entrees ordered by our group were spaghetti and meatballs, House made beef lasagna and bone-in veal Milanese. Everyone was happy with their orders. When we left, the restaurant was still crowded and there was a waiting line. Service was friendly, accommodating and efficient. This is not your typical family style Italian restaurant, but it's more upscale and good for special occasions and get-togethers. read more

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Wifey and I had dinner here for her birthday and we enjoyed the food and location wasn't to far away from home. Our reservations was for 5PM and was seated immediately when we checked in. The restaurant is packed and full of people. We ordered Crab cakes, zucchini fries for appetizer and didn't realize how much of the fries you get. You can feed at least 4-6 people we ended air frying the rest at home and was still good. Wife ordered short ribs with potatoes and I had the prime rib dinner. For dessert we shared a butter cake. Wife had a good time and we both were satisfied. read more

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Amazing service and bustling We love the SF location and the Walnut Creek location was just as good We will be back! read more

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

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4.5stars! One of the most talked about eateries in the Walnut Creek area . Gorgeous interior great for breakfast lunch or dinner dress up or dress casual . Professional staff well versed and attentive . Reservations recommended but mornings are easier than evenings. Ordered the chicken parmigiana that comes with a side ( I ordered spaghetti with meat sauce). It was huge ! Juicy chicken and tasty pasta . The Joes petrale sole was large and panned fried with tartar sauce on the side . Light and satisfying . The eggplant parmigiana was shaped like a lasagna and it too was plentiful and tasty. Complimentary bread included a variety but the focaccia was the star . Great service by Myra ! Nice restaurant to make a good impression with savory hearty food . I'll be back again to sample more of the menu selections . read more

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We had such a great meal at Original Joe's--everything we ordered was honestly a hit. We started with the fried calamari, which was perfectly crispy and not greasy at all. Super fresh with a light batter, and the sauces on the side paired really well. The crab cake was another standout--crispy on the outside, tender inside, and served with a rich, flavorful sauce. For mains, I had the spicy rigatoni and added meatballs--so good. The sauce had the perfect kick without being overwhelming, the pasta was cooked just right, and the meatballs were juicy and full of flavor. My husband got the chicken parm with a side of ravioli, and both were classic comfort dishes done really well--crispy chicken, melty cheese, and rich, satisfying sauces. And we couldn't skip dessert--the bomboloni were amazing. Light, fluffy, coated in sugar, and served with chocolate and raspberry sauces that made them even better. The vibe is lively with that old-school Italian feel, and service was solid. Definitely a place you can count on for consistently great food--we'll absolutely be back! read more

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Really nice atmosphere. Hard to get a reservation. The staff is nice and they have heat lamps. Food is served huge portions, get the zucchini fries. Expensive as expected read more

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My husband and I came here on a Thursday night and even though it looked pretty busy, we were able to get seated right away. We sat next to the kitchen and it was pretty cool and entertaining seeing all the dishes get prepared and organized. Everything we ordered was really good! Our server warns us that the zucchini fries and fried calamari were huge portions but we still wanted to try them. He was not wrong but we didn't have any regrets, since they still tasted really good as leftovers. The rigatoni was super creamy and had a nice, little kick. The seafood pasta was very flavorful and they didn't skimp on the seafood. We never really order dessert but we had to after seeing them make so many. It was soooo good, very rich and a perfect, sweet dish after all the salty appetizers and entrees. We'll definitely be back to try their other dishes! Overall ambiance was nice but can get very loud. Our server never checked in on us after we placed our orders (except to drop off the dessert menu and check lol) but all the other staff were super attentive. read more

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We scored a last minute reservation after contemplating possibly popping by and trying to get on a waitlist. So glad we had a reservation. The restaurant was full, bustling with the entire waiting area full around 4:00pm on a Saturday. It took maybe 15 minutes to get checked in and get seated. It was a little chaotic in the front area. If you have noise sensitivities, this place is not for you. Once seated, our server Roy was awesome. He was very attentive, patient with our questions and had a great vibe. Service was spectacular. We were a little overwhelmed with all the yummy choices and he gave us to the space to take our time with each selection coming out at different times. Let's start with the bread basket variety. I am not a fan of butter at all, but the spread that came with the bread was fantastic. Loved that there were three different types of bread. We also ordered the classic martini and coconut margarita. Both were excellent. We moved on to the mussels and zucchini fries. The epic mound of zucchini fries didn't disappoint! So light and airy, yet crispy. A definitely must. The mussels had great flavor but we did notice quite a number of the shells were empty. We finished with the house made short rib gnocchi. The pillowiest gnocchi we both have ever had, 10/10. Overall, we had an amazing dining experience. Highly recommend reservations. It's also very busy and loud on a Saturday afternoon. It might be overstimulating for those with sensory sensitivities. read more

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Came for lunch today to celebrate my birthday. OJ's never disappoints. Place was bustling at 1:00pm. Everyone was enjoying their meals. Wait staff are very professional. I ordered Arancini as appetizer, really delicious. Cup of chowder that was okay, I've eaten better. My main was the Joe's egg dipped sole. Perfectly cooked. Ravioli side that is delicious. My wife had veal piccata that was generous and very good. We ended the meal with a light dessert I forget the name. They are round pillows if dough with a couple dipping sauces. Brought home probably 1 full dinner of food. All these good things wrapped in a traditional old world diner house feel is a perfec read more

I've been trying to get here since grand opening & FINALLY got a reservation on my birthday! What a great spot, with great staff.. Everyone was so friendly, even wishing me a happy birthday. Walking past the bar, I mentioned wanting the strongest drink possible & they confirmed they can make it happen. They even offered to drive me home or finish my drink if I couldn't since I had to drive home. That's what I call customer service, lol! Jose was our server & he was excellent! When I asked him about the house salad, he named all the toppings & every dressing on earth without hesitation lol. He also recommended the coconut margarita, which was really good! We sat on the terrace on a gorgeous day to enjoy this delicious food. I had the lasagna, but didn't know it would be huge like that. Salad was great, lasagna was perfection! More than enough for left overs. I topped it off with an Italian margarita before leaving & it got the party started. Fantastic experience, food, & birthday! Say YES to Original Joe's if ur in the Creek! read more

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

Vibes and busy venue, however the food is quite bland. I suppose the spot is more about a cocktail and poor food. Next time I'll try other dishes as well as hope for better service. read more

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This is a great place! Definitely a repeat!!! Service was EXCELLENT! Food was delish and an awesome treat with the sparkles!!! I especially loved their espresso martini!!! The food was tasty and presentation was impressive. This is my first time there. I will come back and try other dishes. read more

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I had to see what the hype was and why they always had a line! We couldn't get a reservations so we waited in line. It wasn't too bad for during the week probably about 20 minutes! The restaurant is huge and packed!!! We finally got seating at the bar which was comfy and perfect for a kids free date night. I had the coconut margarita and let me tell you... it was like I was on vacation!!! Creamy yummy with grated lime garnish. My husband had a caprese martini that I wasn't a fan of but I can see why others might like it. All the bartenders were above and beyond kind and so helpful going over the menu. I ended up ordering chicken saltimbocca which was a little on the salty side which I was earned but absolutely delicious. I couldn't believe it comes with a full side of pasta or ravioli. The portions are phenomenal. To start we got the zucchini strings. They forgot to mention it was a huge tower. HUGE. DEF LOVE THE PLACE AND WILL BE BACK FOR MORE. GET THOSE DRINKS READY!!!! read more

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

Stopped here just to see if we would even have a chance of getting a table and we were able to sit at the bar and waited about 5 minutes. We just had some appetizers and drinks as we were about to go shopping. The dip was ok felt like it could be creamier it was very chunky under the melted cheese maybe it's better with the crab. They also gave us a bread basket. The bartenders are what gave us the best experience. Very friendly honest and very attentive. I had. Blood orange drink that was very refreshing. The winner for me was the Hugo spritz obsessed one of the best spritz I have had. We didn't get a chance to try more food but we will be back for sure. Prianna and Mo were great and made it fun to sit at the bar and would answer any questions we had. Can't wait to come back and try their entrees! read more

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A relatively newer location that opened up in Walnut Creek. It's still quite popular with nearly impossible to make reservations and a line out the door at all hours of the day. We managed to get in somehow by putting our names down at 5pm on a Saturday and they called us up 30 min later. Honestly we were so surprised! The food was good, but honestly not worth all the hype. It was all executed well and tasted delicious, but it's not gonna be anything new or exciting. The rigatoni was the star, perfectly al dente with a spicy tomato based sauce. I would come back for that. The zucchini fries were good, but would skip next time. It was a LOT. Everything else was decent but not worth returning for. The location in south San Francisco is good too, you can just go there. read more

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Came here for a Sunday afternoon lunch date with friends. I loved everything about this place. It was packed for a Sunday, which made me glad we'd made reservations. The place is swanky without being over board. You definitely can wear jeans and shorts durning the day and cocktail dresses and suits at night in this place. The wait staff are very professional and attentive. The food was delicious and amazing. I think the price per dish was just about right. Food all around is expensive, but the amount served and the quality of the food makes the price a steal We got the highly recommended zucchini fries and calamari to start, crab eggs benny and eggplant Parmesan with a spritzer to top off a Sunday funday date. read more

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Just enjoyed a delightful lunch here. The restaurant has so much atmosphere with the decor and comfortable seating. Our server Vita was amazing! We had the prime rib dip with ravioli and it's big enough to share. They offer complimentary bread basket with homemade butter. Definitely a fun place to eat at read more

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Upon entering, the restaurant was busy, but the hostess was very pleasant and let us know we could either wait five to ten minutes for a table in the main dining room or be seated in the bar area. We chose the bar and were greeted right away, promptly given water and menus, and even received a complimentary bread basket--a nice touch. Bar area is very nice. We ordered two bay shrimp and avocado sandwiches with fries, and my wife had an Italian black cherry spritz. My wife really enjoyed both her sandwich and her drink. Unfortunately, I found my sandwich rather bland and not particularly memorable. That said, the menu offers plenty of options, so I'd be willing to return and try something different. read more

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I finally came in after not being able to make a decent reservation at a decent hour I'd normally eat. Hubs and I decided to just walk in right at opening without a reservation and take our chances. Although there was a line to check in, the bar area room had immediate seating. The manager saw that we picked a seat in the middle when he said there's a great spot near the window, right near the open fire place. It was perfect. Water and bread basket came immediately as did our server. She came bearing gifts of amazing recommendations. Prime rib French dip with fries and clam chowder for Hubs and Crab Roll and house made chips for me. Oh. M. Gee. It was love at 1st bite for both of us. THIS is why you can't get a reservation and that even as a walk in on normal weekends the wait is HOURS long. Their food was amazing. Never expected to love a dungessness crab roll this much. Perfectly seasoned and not too heavy of the mayonnaise nor was it drowned in butter like other crab roll places. The chips though. Oh their chips I could munch on all day. Thinly sliced potatoes and salted just enough. Not oily at all. Although I was full, their bombolino was that. So b0mb. Hot donuts with chocolate and raspberry sauce for you to drizzle or dip, whatever your heart desires. Did I tell you that the donuts were tossed in cinnamon sugar? Yes, yes. It was the dessert that hit the spot. Need to come back and try their tiramisu and butter cake. read more

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This location is just as nice as sf, without the long wait. As always their calamari is a must and their seafood linguine was probably the best of its kind I've had in a while - would come back and order two of these. Interior and outdoor patio were so pristine, and service was OK, but you would hope for something a bit nicer than a single sparkler in an empty bowl for a birthday surprise:/ read more

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not much to say besides: good food, good service. parking is free in a parking garage right next to it for the first like 3 hours, so you should have plenty of time. my steak was undercooked and they had to redo it, (ordered medium well, got rare in the center lol) but it's whatever. what i love about original joes though is the BUTTER CAKE !!!!! ugh it's so good, i dream about her all the time. read more

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