Original Joe's

This pasta is not on the menu. It is today's special dish, but it should be available every day. If the waiter ‍ does not mention it, you can ask first.The red sauce of tomato and seafood sauce are mixed with a strong flavor.There is a whole lobster next to it. The meat is very fresh and the portion is also large.It is completely possible for two people to share one.-Piccola Cucina EstiatorioThe green sauce and yogurt with the octopus have no taste and are very light. Fortunately, the octopus legs are very tender! It melts with one bite!-TiramisuThe freshly made tiramisu is very ceremonial. Although it is freshly made, the taste is amazing.The coffee tastes very mellow and slightly bitter. The cream cheese is a little sweet, but it is not bad to neutralize it~

We (party of 4) had no reservations and no wait time for dinner on a busy Monday. First time and loved it...from the dark moody lively classy vibe to our engaging knowledgeable server to the amazing food...all was fantastic. And of course the cocktails ~ all good! FRIED CALAMARI 5/5 ~ arrived crispy and hot PRIME RIB DIP 5/5~ thick and juicy MAFALDE CACIO E PEPE w/prawns10/5 ~ so amazing! PARMIGIANA Chicken w/Side Spaghetti 5/5 ~ seasoned perfectly, arrived hot and as ordered PROSCIUTTO SPICY VODKA PARMIGIANA w/brussel sprouts 5/5~ very seasoned and served hot We shared the 17 layer cake ~ perfectionWill definitely be back!

During our trip to San Francisco, I managed to book reservations at Original Joe's. I was able to leave feeling quite satisfied from the delicious food, considering the pricing. The only problem was that it took a while to track down our waiter and collect the check after we had finished our meal. It was evident to me that the management was committed to ensuring the restaurant operated as efficiently as possible. I couldn't determine if there was something else going on or if they had assigned too many tables to the waiters. Additionally, the restaurant's music was a tad too loud for me to try to talk to the person sitting next to me. If you're in San Francisco, I'd suggest another restaurant.

The calamari appetizer was too salty and oily, my salmon lacked flavor, and the linguine and clams were oily. I made a reservation about a month prior, yet we were given the worst table in the restaurant, all the way in the back, with the kitchen right behind us. The restaurant wasn't even full. With so many great restaurants in the area, I would not return to.

For the price, Original Joe's didn't quite deliver. The Branzino was overly oily with a mushy texture--disappointing at $40. The Ravioli was forgettable, with a cold, bland filling that didn't seem house-made. Similarly, the Spaghetti had undercooked noodles and a sauce that tasted more like tomato juice than sauce, adding to the underwhelming experience. On the bright side, the French Dip stood out--the toasted bread, tender beef, and well-balanced au jus with horseradish was a winner. The Clam Chowder was also solid, packed with clam meat and a well-developed flavor. Overall, a mixed experience with a few highlights, but the execution and value didn't quite match the premium pricing.

I went to Original Joes on the recommendation of a local cashier. No reservation, got a seat at the bar with no wait. Service was flawless. Bartender was very focused and attentive. My water cup stayed completely full. I was never waiting for anything even when he was busy making other drinks.Vibe was great. Not too quiet but not too loud. Not too bright but not too dark. Plenty of bar seats. The bar is sort of an L that offers to sections. Wide selection of liquor. I had an old fashion. It was great; they had proper luxardo cherries.I ordered beer salad and roasted half chicken. I order this combination at any restaurants so I have a good base of comparison. My subjective opinions is that the perfect beet salad has beets, arugula, goat cheese, pistachios, and a vinaigrette.This beet salad had most of that, and ranks very high. It has roasted beets, romaine, goat cheese, and walnuts. The only thing I'd change is swapping the walnuts for pistachios. The romaine was really good; maybe better than arugula. The dressing was something Italian; definitely a vinaigrette of some sort. It was really delicious. I scarfed that thing down. Excellent.Next was the chicken. It was served over mash potatoes and chicken gravy. This was also a fantastic version of one of my most ordered dishes. Loved everything about it. The chicken was high quality the sauce was salty and delicious. I think they should crisp up the chicken skin with a broiler or something before serving. Otherwise, the chicken was flawless.I order roasted chicken and beet salad at every restaurant that offers it. The rendition at Original Joes ranks up there with the best of them. It was on the pricey side. $16 cocktails and $35 chicken. In Phoenix where I live that would be the very top what is pay at like a trendy resort. So, not sure if this is just normal for SF or if I was too near tourist area. But OJ's is definitely not cheap.The high price and soft chicken skin brings it down to a 4.5.Definitely would eat again and recommend you visit if you get the chance. Expect to spend some decent coin.

Last dinner of 2024, we decided to check out Original Joes in North Beach.For starters, we went with the fried calamari and a Caesar salad. The fried calamari was pretty tasty, done well, I'd ask for it extra crispy next time though. The cocktail sauce was horseradish heavy, which I prefer, so if that's not your thing, use lightly. The Caesar was good but probably wouldn't rush to order again. We split an order and our server offered to split it in on two separate plates which was much appreciated.For the mains, I went with the roasted prime rib. Ngl, I had high hopes bc I saw something on IG about it but I found it to be just alright. The crust wasn't super flavorful and the meat was a bit tough. It was a good medium rare and the horseradish and au jus helped a ton. It came with a side of mashed potatoes and cream of spinach. I think value wise, it's good bc you get a huge piece of prime rib for $49 but maybe I just got it on an off night.The Irish coffee and espresso martinis were also highlights for me. Both were done really well and tasted great.My partner got the chicken parm with the prosciutto, I found it to be really tasty. It's a huge piece and we were able to take it home and it reheated well. The raviolis on the side are classic, solid side dish. Shout out to our server, (I missed her name) but she was amazing. Very attentive, gave recommendations and made the dining experience worth the visit. We arrived just before 6pm on NYE, and we were able to get a table on the outdoor parklet right away which was a pleasant surprise. The dining room inside is a vibe, but it was 1.5 hour wait. My recommendation would be to grab a reservation ahead of time if it's available.

Came here for an early dinner. I was disappointed that they didn't offer HH like it says on yelp but, whatever. So we started with Arancini they were ok. A little dry inside so the sauce helped it a little. I ordered the fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp it was good. I wish the pasta was fresh being it was a Italian restaurant. My husband ordered a chopped salad and he enjoyed it. We both had some wine with our meals. We then ended our meal with pistachio Panna cotta. It was delicious best part of our meal. Our server Angel was great. Also I noticed they don't offer pizza at this location like they do at the marina one. Kinda disappointing as their pizzas are great.

Came here on a weekday at peak dinner hour so still had to wait about 30 minutes for a table since it's popular (to me, a tourist trap). Here's what we got:- arancini: tomato based risotto with very mushy texture and lukewarm. The crunch was ok. The more I ate it the more I realized it wasn't too good though. 2.5/5- house made ravioli: looked and tasted like canned chef boyardee. The mushiest ravioli I've ever had, with no good flavors or textures. 1/5- spicy rigatoni: the best of the three, but still not very good. Texture was not mushy like the other two but still not al dente. Flavor was simple. 3/5It's suffice to say I was not impressed and won't be coming back. In fact, I was even displeased.

Original Joe's never lets me down. I absolutely adore this place. Is the wait long? Yes. Are there tourists swarming? Yes. But, both those mentions no longer bother me now that I've found the perfect watering hole across the street to have a few while waiting, Tony Nik's. North Beach is alive and it's exciting to see people out and about again. Original Joe's seems to always be a solid meeting hub and spot to dine with groups or gals. Original Joe's has also shared memories of wedding rehearsals, work dinners, and countless post-Giant game moments. Love the old school Italian vibes here, photos that adorn the walls, and dim lighting. Menu-wise ~ the warm sourdough bread and Original Joe's branded butter, house red wine, the chicken parm with side of pasta/signature marinara, cacio e pepe, and butter cake to finish it all off...perfection! The spaghetti and meatballs and Caesar are also solid. These dishes are not for those ready for a bikini shoot next day, rather shareable/family style. Although not going to lie, while pregnant, the chicken parm was not shared :)The tastes, textures, flavors, menu is so comforting and familiar. Not a spot easy on the wallet, but definitely one for the books. Staff just like famiglia.