We went to the new Original Joes in Walnut Creek. They have only been open for a couple days so we wanted to give them a try. The good: * The restaurant is new and clean with a nice retro diner vibe. * the front of house service is really good. They're very friendly and there are tons of workers here. * most of the dishes are provide generous portions and are pretty good. The calamari is huge and the lasagna is flavorful (but a bit too salty) The bad: * it's slow. It took 30 min to get a table, 15 min to get the order in, another 15 to get the appetizers and another 40 to get entrees. All in, we were here for 2 hours. * they made lots of mistakes. They forgot the bread, the turkey bacon club was missing the bacon, and they initially delivered an eggplant Parmesan dish instead of the lasagna. Then they awkwardly removed this eggplant from the table and we waited another 10 minutes for the lasagna. * they have 2 or 3 manager types in suits that randomly walk around and observe. They're weirdly staring at workers and customers. It's strange. * some of the food is just too salty (lasagna and calamari for example) read more

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Headed over for a business meeting but couldn't make a reservation so was concerned about getting a table. I walked in at noon with 7 people ahead of me, so concerned! Got to the front and asked if we could get a table, was told they would have one in 15min...yayy! The staff was very nice and attentive. The food was delicious. Started with a basket of bread and whipped butter. We got the fried calamari as well- so much calamari and so scrumptious. My advisor got the spicy rigatoni and added a meatball. Smelled and looked delish! I got the shrimp scampi and had them add the calabrian chili butter. Twas so good! Will definitely be back. read more

Original Joe's - Shrimp scampi with calabrian chili butter added Had a ton left over for dinner! - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I've been using Yelp for a looooong time. This is my 246th review but only the 3rd time I've placed a critical review. I refuse to dwell on the negative. I'd just say, if you choose to go to Original Joe's in Walnut Creek be prepared to bring a ton of patience and grace. They are a victim of their own popularity and seem to crave creating a loud, over crowded, chaotic environment as a sign of their success. It seems as though the operating principals are charge top dollar, keep them waiting, treat them like crap, and they'll be tripping over themselves to come back. Caveat Emptor. read more

The food was great, but can we talk about the bathroom? The toilet ROOMS are legitimately bigger than my bedroom. I walked into one and started wondering where I should put my couch. The bathroom itself feels about the size of my entire apartment spacious, spotless, and somehow more luxurious than my own place. I went in to wash my hands and almost started paying rent. Original Joe's didn't just build a restroom they built affordable housing. 10/10. I'd come back just to admire the bathroom. read more

Food - me and my friend went to dine in at the Original Joe's this weekend. After hearing all the good reviews through friends who have visited their SF location, I decided to give the Walnut Creek location a try since it's closer to me. We got the shrimp rigatoni and beef ravioli. It was so so bland. Me and my friend couldn't finish the food because it tasted like they heated up the food instead of making it fresh. I don't think I'll be going back to this place again! The ambience and our server were nice, but the food was very bad! Not worth it :( read more

Excellent food and service. Although the menu looks plain, it's the quality the counts. For example the mashed potatoes that came with the chicken masala? Omg I never tasted potatoes like that ever. Smooth buttery garlic so much flavor out of a simple dish like mashed potatoes! The prime rib sandwich and the calamari? Fogetaboutit ! Out of this world. Our Waiter Carlo a.k.a Steve Buscemi look- alike was fantastic and funny! I already reserved for our next event! read more

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I tried walking into Original Joe's once and was told the wait would be hours unless I had a reservation. Because of how busy it always is, I decided to book a reservation a few months out and came in with pretty high expectations. I have to say, the service was amazing and very attentive, definitely some of the best service I've experienced, at least at the North Beach location. We were seated in a large booth for our party of two with a great view of the whole restaurant. The atmosphere feels lively but still classy, which makes it a really good date spot. The food itself was pretty good overall. I would definitely come back again for the Spicy Rigatoni. I'm pretty sure that's the dish that made this place famous, and I can see why, the flavor was amazing. Drinks: * Hugo Spritz * Espresso Martini Both were good. The espresso martini was on the sweeter side, so it's great if you like sweeter cocktails. Appetizers: * Fried Calamari Very good, no complaints here. The cocktail sauce and tartar sauce were both really good. Entrees: * Prime Rib Dip * Spicy Rigatoni The Spicy Rigatoni was a 10/10. Definitely the standout dish of the night. The Prime Rib Dip was okay. The meat itself was good, but having it in sandwich form felt a bit heavy, so I ended up just eating the meat without the bread. Overall, it's a fun, lively spot with great service and a few standout dishes. I'd come back again, especially for the rigatoni. read more

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The food was amazing! The minestrone soup reminded me of my childhood as well as the raviolis. Everyone in our party of six loved what they ordered. It was a little slow getting our meals but they were hustling for sure. The staff was very attentive. There was a variety of music. It was kind of loud which made people talk over the music. But as soon as we started eating all was well. LOL There's a parking lot almost next door to the restaurant. For some reason there wasn't a charge. We lucked out. read more

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Original Joe's in Walnut Creek is one of our go-to spots, especially for the walk-in bar area seating. We come here frequently and rarely have an issue getting a table unless it's a busy Friday night or a packed weekend, even then, the wait is usually reasonable. Our usual order never disappoints: Parmesan truffle fries, Caesar salad, lasagna, and the butter cake. The truffle fries are amazing, the portion size is extremely generous, the fries are perfectly cooked with a great crunch, and the aioli sauce on the side is great. The Caesar salad is another consistent win and a great addition to start the meal. It's refreshing, well-balanced, and a nice size for sharing. The lasagna is our go-to entrée, it comes out fresh and hot every time, with a great cheese-to-meat-to-noodle ratio that's hearty and satisfying without being overwhelming. And the butter cake... absolute must-order. It's our favorite dessert here, unique, hot, and delicious. The scoop of vanilla ice cream on top perfectly complements the warm cake. The ambiance is high energy and can definitely get loud in the bar area, but that's part of the charm. Service is consistently attentive, and the food reliably comes out hot and well-prepared. Overall, Original Joe's delivers every time. Definitely recommend. read more

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Love me some Original Joe's! Classic Italian spot with great service and amazing food. The only real drawback is the price, but hey it is Walnut Creek. If you can snag a reservation, definitely do it; otherwise, good luck getting a seat during peak hours. The drinks are fantastic, and you can't go wrong with the Spicy Rigatoni. Save room for the Butter Cake as it's a must. read more

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Bravo Original Joe's everything about this restaurant deserves all the stars I gave them. The ambiance is fabulous! There is music for everyone! From the bar/lounge area, main dining room and outside, I want to go back just to have a drink and chill, wherever they sit me. Now to the service, excellent, it's been a few weeks so I can't remember our servers name but he was awesome! All his recommendations were everything he said and more, even down to the wine. Great job! Now to the food, superb!!! My favorite thing, although it was ALL good was the zucchini fries. I don't know what the batter is made of but my recreation at home did them no justice. At the table here were our dinner selections: Joe's spicy rigatoni, wood fire brick chicken, and the prosciutto spicy vodka chicken parmigiana. All great portions and leftovers were taken home by each and every one of us. The drinks were even delicious! Original Joe's has always had a special place in my heart, so glad you are close enough to go anytime now! read more

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First, I really went back and forth whether the overall rating would be a 2 or 3. You will see why it ultimately became a 2. There were 3 of us in our party for lunch. We were promptly sat at our reservation time. It is a loud atmosphere and a bit harder to hear everyone. Bread arrived and it was delicious. Our server was "okay". One of us ordered the French dip sandwich with fries and aioli. Another person ordered the clam chowder and the other person ordered the side lunch salad and side ravioli. Each person's meal came at different times. Here's the skinny on each person's lunch: Clam Chowder: It was barely warm, watery, lacked flavor. Side Salad + Side Ravioli: The salad was fine. The ravioli's were at best luke warm, with a sweeter red sauce that lacked flavor. Needed to add garlic, basil, and other flavor components to taste like the old country in Italy. French Dip Sandwich: Sandwich came out lukewarm, au jus was slightly warm, not hot and the fries were barely hot. Once dipped a fry into the aioli we then noticed there was a "HAIR", yes a hair - gross!!! We notified the server and she looked like she did not believe us, even when we showed her. She gave us demeaning vibe, which turned us off. One of our diners who ordered the raviolis also shared with the server that the raviolis were barely warm. Shortly after, the general manager came over to apologize for the Luke warm raviolis and took it off the bill. He did not mention the hair on the fry and clearly the server did not say anything. Quite frankly the whole dining experience was disappointing and we were done at that point. On a side note, this was our 2nd time eating there. Our first experience was positive. I would ask that management, read all reviews and make adjustments accordingly. read more

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Service and ambiance were good. Entrees were okay. Butter Cake was delicious . Best thing! read more

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

Finally, we got a reservation at Original Joe's. We went there for lunch on a Thursday. They open at 11 and by 11:30 it was packed. Ambiance was very nice, big and well designed. Seats were comfortable. Service was superb. We order the popular appetizer, zucchini fries. It seemed every table ordered it. Quite tasty. I liked it better the. The regular fries. My veal was a little tough, the manager changed it for me right away. Overall, we enjoyed our lunch and look forward coming back often. Walnut Creek needs more restaurants like this. read more

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First time at the Walnut Creek location, we ordered 2 appetizers, 4 main course and a dessert, which mostly were good. I was really disappointed with the prime rib, first of all, it has no taste, secondly it was tougher than others I had. Lastly it doesn't appear to have the au jus on it, I didn't see any container with the au jus, so I ask for some. When we finish our meal, I told the lady server to box up our leftovers and the au jus. When she was done boxing, she forgot the au jus, so we told our waiter and he said ok but also didn't bring it until the check came, we were charged $3 for the au jus, I have never been anywhere that will charge a fee for the au jus. I don't mind paying the $3 if they have told me when I ask for the au jus not when I was paying the bill. The excuse was that the au jus was pour on the prime rib, so if we wanted more we have to pay. If I had known, I would complain about the meat has no taste. I really don't see any au jus on the plate, why can't they just do like other, put the au jus in a container. read more

Original Joe's - No au jus that I can see or taste - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

My friends and I came in around 12 on a Saturday. The wait was only 1 hr. We were sat in a big booth in the main room. We ordered an espresso martini, joes martini, and diet cokes. Our server was friendly and we ordered the zucchini fries and calamari. The zucchini fries were okay they taste like veggie straws. The apps are very big and great for sharing. We had a few more drinks and dessert. Id love to come back next time for entrees. read more

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Beautiful lobbies and long lines do not a great restaurant make. I started going to the San Jose location over 20 years ago when I first moved to California. I was looking for a New York-style Italian restaurant, and OJ's felt close enough. Over the years, that particular venue went downhill, so I was genuinely excited to hear that a new one was opening close to my East Bay home. The a Walnut Creek location has plenty of parking next door, and the interior is attractive. Beyond that, everything else was a problem. Service: Unorganized waiting area, I felt like I was always in the way. One would hope they would learn how to manage that from their other sites. Despite having a reservation, we waited 20 minutes to be seated. Once seated, it took another 40 minutes before we were even able to place our order. Food: The pasta didn't seem fresh, and the sauce tasted old. The only genuinely enjoyable dish was the calamari. Our lemonades had to be replaced because they tasted like water, and our Brussels sprout salad arrived without dressing. I understand that minor glitches can happen during dinner service at any restaurant -- but when all of them happen on the same night, it points to larger issues. Overall, a disappointing experience and not what I expected given my long history with the restaurant. In closing, I'm hoping these issues can be attributed to growing pains, though the restaurant itself has been around for quite some time. I genuinely wish them well as they continue to find their footing. BB read more

Excellent, we love it, calamari cooked perfect the taste really good, my wife love this place but sometimes the restaurant are full..

My friend and I had a very disappointing experience at the Original Joe's. As we arrived near closing time , we noticed several hostesses and the manager standing around talking and laughing while the front entrance was not being actively managed. Two Asian men entered before a white couple and were instructed to wait behind the red rope because supposedly everyone would be seated in the bar area. They waited approximately 8-10 minutes without any updates. Shortly after, a white couple walked in without a reservation and was immediately escorted to a table by the hostess. The rwo men politely asked why they had been waiting while another party that arrived after them was seated first. The explanation giving was that another table would be available soon, but that did not address why the later-arriving guests had been seated immediately. From what we personally observed, the staffs appeared more focused on socializing than assisting waiting guest. Whether intentionally or not, the situation gave the impression of unequal treatment, and the two men felt they had been treated unfairly. They ultimately chose to leave because of the experience. We were also disappointed by how the situation was handled by the manager. The restaurant was not busy, there were only a few parties waiting before closing, so this could have resolved it with better communication and attention. This was our first visit to Original Joe's and unfortunately, the poor service and lack of professionalism left a very negative impression. We hope the management reviews their cusomer service practices to ensure every guest is treated fairly and respectfully. read more

The ambiance was great, bright and clean, upscale look place. The food was really good! Temperature of food was great, flavorful and very good portions! The drinks are good. The service... AMAZING! Our server Carlos M. went above and beyond, very attentive, very efficient, friendly, upbeat and great charisma. Would definately go back! read more

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After a busy day of house hunting, we had lunch at this location and it was a great experience. The place was packed and parking can be a challenge in Walnut Creek. Food was delicious. Everything we ordered was just yummy. Place is nice, but I personally prefer the Daly City location as far as ambience is concerned. Service was great and our servers were really pleasant. read more

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Charlie-our server was EXTRAORDINARY, 5 stars!!! Original Joe's has the service down to perfection. While the service here is commendable, the purpose of going to a restaurant is to enjoy the food. The food here was just OK, not spectacular. The red sauce on the lasagna, ravioli, and chicken parm were way too sweet...sugary sweet, and that's not appetizing. The spicy rigatoni was delicious, creamy with a slight kick. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. The butter cake was nice. Overall, the food was just meh. The service is some of the best we've experienced. Looks like they're doing well and it's always a packed house, so that's good for them. Wish them all the best, but we probably won't be back. read more

Another great meal at a table in the bar area. We walked in without reservation, early Friday evening, waited approx 30 min. The prime rib dip was delicious, generous portion, filling. Crispy french fries which I like. My wife had the sole, amazing. Sides of raviolis and broccolini are favorites. Yes, we had enough to take home. Great friendly staff and always available and accommodating. read more

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

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Walked in on a Sunday around 5:30pm with a party of 5 and were told the next available table wouldn't be until 8:30pm. Unfortunately, we needed to get back to the hospital since visiting hours end at 8pm, and I also had family visiting from out of town. The host suggested we wait in line for the bar area instead. We were second in line, and when it was almost our turn, my brother was walking in from parking across the street. However, the staff said they had to move on to the next party, which was frustrating. As a party of 5, it ended up taking about an hour before we were finally seated. Once seated, the experience improved. They brought out bread with three different options, and the butter was really yummy. We ordered calamari and French fries. The calamari was delicious, especially with the horseradish sauce. The French fries weren't the best--we probably should have gone with the zucchini fries or truffle fries instead. The decor was very themed and well done, giving the place an upscale diner vibe. It was definitely loud, but that matched the energetic atmosphere. I also loved the exterior--you can clearly see it's the Original Joe's just a block away, which adds to the charm. Despite the long wait, the food came out quickly and was delicious overall. I'd come back to try the steak and the zucchini fries, but I highly recommend making a reservation since it seems you need to book weeks to months in advance. read more

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This place never fails. I am from San Francisco and I usually go to the one in Daly city the original Westlake, Joe's, but we tried the Walnut Creek location since it opened this year and it did not fail. Everything on the menu is delicious always getting the calamari as an appetizer and I got a salad this time but my baby got the rack of lamb which he said was amazing and he makes it amazing lamb chops. This place does not disappoint. The service was really on point and had our drinks to us pretty quickly and it was very busy. We sat in the bar area at a table since the restaurant seating was an hour to 90 minute wait. Love this place. read more

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I've been to this OJ's a number of times since it's opened, and it truly doesn't disappoint... not one bit, ever. If you've been trying to get a reservation, keep trying, it's worth it. I also highly recommend trying to walk in to the bar area for a table at a less busy time of day. I've gotten a table in this area twice when walking in, so it can be done! The cocktails are great, food is amazing. The spicy rigatoni is a classic go-to of mine and it always hits the spot. You simply can't leave without dessert, and butter cake is always a good idea. The vibe is so cute - giving modern yet old school classic. This is the new hot spot of WC for a reason, so definitely go, it's worth it. read more

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To start off the place is super cute and adorable. Food was pretty quick to come up and had great flavors. The crab cake, 10/10 so delicious as someone who isn't a big seafood person. The garlic bread was delicious and already pre-sliced which made it so much easier to eat. The pasta was delicious. Cooked perfectly, and perfect amount of spice. I added chicken to it which I really appreciated that it was shredded and added into the pasta already. My fiance got scallops which he also said were pretty tasty. My least favorite thing was probably the calamari. I loved how crispy it was but the squid itself was hard to chew almost as if it was old or had been sitting out for a while. The dole whip drink we got was a little strong for my liking. As for service, food was quick to come up. Our server was not very attentive and actually missed two of the things we ordered which we had to remind. We also had to constantly wave him down if he needed anymore water as he really only came to the table to take our orders and to drop the check. all the other staff was friendly and had smiles on their faces. It was a bummer our server wasn't very attentive but we would definitely be back as we enjoyed the food! Make sure to book your reservations in advance as they do seem to be pretty busy! read more

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Okay, so much to share! As a 5th Gen San Francisco native I was over the moon to see an Original Joe's open in Walnut Creek. I'll begin with logistics and then move on to food: Reservations- strongly encouraged, via Open Table, but booked out like 2 weeks!! I was looking for a table for 2, 7PM. Walk-ins - Welcomed. There is a counter area, think bougie diner and also a bar/lounge with full menu; but you may also wait for a table either inside or on their heated patio. My wait was quoted up to 90 minutes, they took a number to text and advised, "return within 10 min of table ready text" - we went to shop, but received a table ready text w/in 10 minute. Seating: We sat on the patio, yep, in January! I highly recommend it. Quieter, more comfortable and better ambiance than the indoor area. My only complaint was the walkway is too narrow and we were at a table placed at the end, where there probably shouldn't be one. Our placement was awkward all night with wait staff unable to pass one another so ducking behind my chair to let them by and narrow misses of taking someone or their dish out with minimal movement lol. Our server, Ben, was amazing- if you're lucky enough to be seated with him. His personality rocked, as did his knowledge of the menu. Prices are a bit excessive for the quality, but you're paying for an experience (which necessitates addresses the crowded end table). Birthdays: they'll provide a dessert, with a giant sparkler. No singing or spectacle. It's lovely, as my bday girl doesn't like a big production. Choose the butter cake (more on that soon). Payments: traditional, bring your credit card or cash - I didn't see a tap to pay option. Tipping is optional, and they didn't force recommendations on me. I appreciate that. Parking - the lot didn't charge us, but they do not offer parking validation, so plan to pay for parking. Food: Crab cocktail, so delicious. Cocktail sauce has just the right amount of horseradish. Quantity is what is to be expected, plenty to share among 2. Marry Me Farfalle w/chicken - wont be getting any proposals. It was not bad, but it was not spectacular either. Chicken Parmigiana - this was a sight to behold. Taste very good too. Plan for leftovers, it is heavy and you'll probably be full with a few bites. I had the spaghetti with meat sauce as the side - I recommend! Bread basket - nice combo of sourdough (tastes like the Watsonville bakery recipe), focaccia and a bruschetta toast? Butter cake - gooey, not too heavy heaven. I absolutely recommend this dessert! We will totally be back. read more

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We walked by Original Joes and immediately knew we needed to get reservations. So we got places on the waitlist. One hour wait but it was worth the wait. The place was packed on o Wednesday evening. The text arrived and our table was available. We started with the clam chowder which was amazing. The zucchini fries were huge and tasty. A great mixed salad followed. We shared our main dish the Prime Rib Dip. Staff was super friendly. Loved watching the dessert get served with sparklers going off n read more

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Quality service and the food is 3 star Michelin Star worthy! I will come back here again because it's lively and every part of the restaurant is an experience! There is always something to look at that's interesting... you'll be intrigued! Originally here for lunch with my date but got seated for early dinner... this establishment gets busy and you'll know why! Got seated outside and they accommodated heaters and a fireplace. Ordered the prime rib because experts recommend it(I'm always going to get this btw). My favorite, seared day boat scallop and it was phenomenal. Perfectly cooked and I mean the sear on it was pure artwork and the middle was cooked well! Juicy and tender. Original Joe's set the bar for all steak houses and the scenery inside is beautiful and romantic! 9.5/10! read more

Original Joe's - Seared day boat Scallop risotto, shrimp scampi, and original Joe's slow roasted prime rib! - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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This was my first time dining here, and overall it was pretty good. The restaurant is known for long lines, so I would recommend making a reservation in advance. While the food was good, I wouldn't go out of my way to wait in a long line for it. I attempted to visit back in December, but the line was out the door. That said, the ambiance was pleasant and the restaurant was clean, which made for an enjoyable dining experience. read more

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Came here on two occasions. Once at lunch which we walked in and sat at the bar and once for dinner which I reserved on OpenTable. I think they mentioned without a reservation the way is 2-3 hours. No wait to sit at the bar for lunch. This place was busy and packed! They have a lot of staff so service was quick. They have the best fried food. Batter was light and crispy. Some of the best calamari, zucchini fries and chicken tenders ever. The portions were also huge. Prime rib was okay, decently seasoned but I think HOPR is superior. Drinks were good also! read more

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Food and service were good, but TOO LOUD and very expensive!! If I am in the area again I might try lunch, but not sure

I was so excited to finally try Original Joe's after hearing about it nonstop for months, and while I really wanted to love it, my experience landed somewhere in the middle. First, the good: this place has serious style. It's absolutely beautiful inside -- thoughtfully designed, lively, and buzzing with energy. I came solo on a spontaneous visit without a reservation and ended up waiting a little over two hours for a table. I didn't mind too much since downtown Walnut Creek is nice for killing time, but just note that many nearby spots close by 8pm, and I wasn't seated until around 9. The upside of eating later is that it does calm down slightly, though it was still very busy. The staff -- from the hostesses to the servers -- were all friendly and welcoming, and the overall atmosphere felt upbeat and high-energy. Definitely more of a fun night out vibe than a romantic dinner. As for the food and drinks: I tried two mocktails -- the Negroni and a citrus option -- and unfortunately didn't love either. The Negroni was too bitter for my taste, and the citrus drink leaned heavily sour with a lot of lemon. I ordered the iconic zucchini fries, which had great presentation and were fun at first, but they were quite oily and didn't sit very well with me as the meal went on. For my main, I got the spicy rigatoni (one of the most popular items on the menu) and added shrimp. It was... fine. Not bad, but not especially flavorful, and by that point the meal felt very carb- and fat-heavy without much complexity. My favorite dish of the night was actually dessert -- the butter cake. It was warm, had a great texture, and paired perfectly with the ice cream. One thing worth noting is the price. I ended up spending over $100, with the rigatoni alone around $30 and shrimp adding another $9. For what the food was, it didn't quite feel worth the cost. Overall, I'd give Original Joe's about a 7.25/10. I might give it another shot and try different menu items, but for me, this spot is more about the vibes and experience than the food itself. It's a great place for a high-energy night out with friends -- just expect to pay a premium for food that's solid, but not standout. read more

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Wow we got lucky with a last minute reservation on a Friday night! It was a very busy night. Good thing there was a bar for us to chit chat while we wait for our reservation. This restaurant looked very pretty and it's a great place for pictures. As we got seated, our waitress came and gave us the specials they had for the night. We all ordered cocktails and a bunch of food. Before you know it, everything came out quick. There wasn't much of a wait. Our waitress was on top of it. We did family style so we all got to try a little bit of everything. Everything was hot and delicious! The pasta and steak, yum yum yum so flavorful! I would definitely come back. read more

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My overall rating for Original Joe's would have to be 6/10... :/ Ambiance is great, exactly what you would expect based on what's being shared all over social media. Upbeat. Trendy. And very festive this time of year. Service was also excellent. I was greeted by (I assume) a manager who was handling the large crowd of people waiting to get in on the Sunday before Christmas. And our server (female with cute freckles, tattoos and really cool finger nails) was awesome! But my BF and I were both disappointed by the food. He got the crab cakes benedict (crab was just okay). I got the prime rib dip, which could have been amazing! But it lacked flavor (the prime rib just tasted like boiled meat, even after I dipped it in the jus). I ended up asking for A1 sauce. French fries were amazing! Clam chowder was also good (according to the BF). The beet salad I found bland/boring (despite the absolutely gorgeous presentation). And the Bloody Mary was also just average (nothing special about it). I would still come back to Original Joe's; I wouldn't go so far as to say our experience was "bad". I just went with high hopes and left feeling underwhelmed. read more

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I remember dining at the what I think was the original Original Joe's at 144 Taylor Street in San Francisco's Tenderloin. That restaurant was founded in 1937 by Croatian immigrant Tony Rodin and had to close (and move) in 2007 due to a fire. I remember a casual neighborhood place with large portions, within an "interesting" neighborhood. I suppose that the new Original Joe's in Walnut Creek is also a neighborhood joynt, albeit in a more upscale suburban environment. This place also had a fire soon after opening, which caused an unfortunate multi-week closure and subsequent reopening. Our arrival during the middle of week was so busy, that it could have easily been mistaken for a Friday or Saturday night. Our friends had snagged a reservation, which was no small accomplishment for this place. CONS - Nothing Really +/- - It can get loud here, but we were fine once we arrived at our table. PROS - Convenient City parking lot nearby. - Classy Decor and well dressed wait staff. - Outstanding professional, efficient, and attentive service. - All our choices (House-Made Baked Lasagna, Filet of Sole Piccata, Chicken Parmigiana, Spaghetti and Meatballs, plus Calamari for the Table) were all delicious and rich. As it was Fern's birthday celebration, the Joe's Warm Buttercake (with a big flare of a candle) went 4 ways very easily. - The menu choices seem pricy at first, but you do get a lot of food for the money. And a few choices came with a generous side of Ravioli. A big table-wide bag of leftovers came home with us, which probably lasted at least 2 additional meals. The next time Gayle and I come, we will most probably order one entree and a single side salad for the 2 of us. read more

Quite a few standout appetizers like zucchini fries and calamari and crab cakes. For entrees, we had veal Milanese with Joe's ravioli, fusilli pesto and eggplant parm. Milanese came the first time burnt and is no better than Wiener schnitzel for almost $40 but is on the dry side without any sauce or condiment. Ravioli and fusilli were not Al dense and flavor was very mild. Eggplant parm, however, is above average for its kind. Its signature warm butter cake is very good with somewhat crispy exterior and warm interior that serves as a perfect texture contrast with the ice cream. Service is very good and restaurant had a energetic ambiance without being noisy. Decor is appropriately modern classic and inviting. Overall, it's an upscale red-sauce joint with pretty high price point for the food it serves IMO. I didn't personally get the hype and am doubtful to return but did like the dining experience itself with a few standout appetizers. read more

Original Joe's - partially cut Crab cake - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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This place gets really busy so make a resy. I go to the one in Westlake and they opened a new on in Walnut Creek so had to check it out. The food was delicious the prime rib which is what they're known for was great. Our server was super awesome the girls and I had a great time here. The only thing I would say was that a couple of our dishes were missed but they acknowledged and took it off our bill. They kept bringing food to our table that wasn't ours but it was a packed house and everyone was busy. read more

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Fantastic!! OJs has been a staple growing up and when I heard there was one that was close to us I was elated. This location is beautiful and a perfect size. Easy location and parking in abundance. Must haves are the Prime Dip sandwich, OJ burger, raviolis and zucchini strings. They treat you so special on your birthday too! read more

Original Joe's - Prime Dip sando with provolone and carmelized onions. - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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