Joe's Cafe

Heard about this place at our local sea side motel. Strong drinks is what they said. It was true…. Got in quick. Staff was awesome. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. Food was amazing. Best corn beef ever. So good. The salsa was amazing. I would recommend yes! Keep it up.

Breakfast at Joe’s Stopped in for breakfast at Joe’s and tried the All American—2 eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast. Also had the Pancake Sandwich, which came with 2 pancakes, bacon, and eggs. We ordered orange juice too—it tasted hand-squeezed, which was a nice touch. Food came out warm (not quite hot), and the portions were on the smaller side, but still satisfying. Prices were reasonable for what you get. Big shout out to Juan, our server—super polite and friendly, made the experience better.

Reason for visiting: dinner; in town for my friend's wedding Date/time of visit: Thursday night, ~6:30 PM Parking: parked at hotel but there's street parking and parking lots around; don't think there's any free parking. No parking for restaurant specifically Party size: ~12; ~4 5 kids/teens Environment/ambience: we had a large party so there was a short wait. We stayed at the Hotel Santa Barbara so Joe's was right across; pretty convenient if you get a little tipsy 😀. TVs around so was able to catch the NBA Finals Game 6; no sound though. Small bar area. Bathroom was clean. Old school Italian place; I was waiting for the hitmen to come through the front door 😀Streets were blocked off so easy to walk around but harder to park. Lots of one way streets around so be careful. Service: was good; he came around often. Orders were all correct, no mistakes. Friendly. Drinks were a little slow at the start but everything was good; they made up for it with the heavy pours 😀 Drinks were strong Food: had the garlic bread, cheeseburger, onion rings (side of thousand island), and old fashioned. Everything was good; cooked as ordered. Cost: $450, including tip Would I go back (yes/no): 80/20; higher if staying at Hotel Santa Barbara but parking seems difficult

A longstanding iconic restaurant in Santa Barbara that doesn't disappoint. Generous food portions from a gigantic menu featuring both traditional American dishes and more modern stuff. We had the halibut and the smash burger which were both fantastic and then the homemade cherry pie with ice cream. All really tasty! Service was good, with a well staffed establishment and decor inside is nice. In Santa Barbara you're spoilt for choice but this place is definitely a place that won't disappoint.

Great food great service! Came on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. Crab salad sandwich was great, and the Diablo dip was a group favorite! Pies looked super delicious and were steaming hot. Recommend Joe’s cafe if you are in the area!

I like to come here on my lunch breaks- Busy little place, friendly familiar face waiters, love the decor. Cozy. Try the espresso martini. I always have crab cakes with a mimosa+ Erickas Spinach salad. Bread, butter and salsa. Yummy! Try it! The best blueberry pancakes! Ribs and fettuccini alfredo is a hearty little dinner!

Old school diner. Red and white checked tablecloths. Lots of regulars hanging out at the bar. We were seated quickly but then no one came and took our drink order for probably 15 minutes. I felt our server was very distracted. I had to keep asking to please bring water, and we both said we didn’t want cream with our coffee but she brought it anyway. Maybe she was overwhelmed? The food was exactly as expected. Tasted like diner food. Comforting and nostalgic. The avocado toast was not like the typical avocado toast, it had no frills. All business. The steak and eggs, same deal. Iconic food, just what we wanted on a Sunday morning after having too much fun last night. I saw their pies on the shelf on my way to the bathroom, would love to try those sometime! Also, I was really perturbed that they misspelled “sourdough” on the menu. Bummer.

Delicious and comforting! There were so many options that my family of seven were all able to find something to eat! Staff were spectacular, ambiance was amazing, and everything was delicious.

you had me at the old school interior, large comfortable booths buy a mug. leave full, even if your wallet is less so

No thanks. The server was beyond slow. Then brought me a completely wrong sandwich. I only came to this restaurant for a crab sandwich. The bread was toasted, but the filling was ice cold. I was sitting on the patio. There was a man smoking while playing music on a speaker AND picking fleas off his dog. French Fries were the best part, although I never got the ranch I ordered.

Fun staff and interior but the food was okay at best. We got the Cuban and the all day breakfast. There was a strange after taste with the eggs but the toast and butter were great. French fries were nice too. My partner enjoyed the Cuban. The total ran us about $46 which was slightly pricey but well worth the ambiance. The thing that irked me the most was the water cups, it smelled like dog for some reason, therefore was slightly off putting to drink and get refills. Otherwise a decent experience.

Well we're back! Decided to take a drive just to get out of the house and away from the heat. Plan was to come again to Joe's Cafe for breakfast then walk around town. Server is very friendly. Husband ordered the same breakfast as the last time we stopped. Me, decided on pancakes. I asked if they were buttermilk. I was told they were. I didn't think they tasted like it. But they were ok. Next time going to try the Chilaquiles Divorciados

Went there on a Wednesday morning about 10:30. We got served by a very nice hostess. The waitress seemed to be annoyed that most of our party of 4 was deaf. By the time she took me order she seemed pissed off. Food came out in two orders about 5 minutes apart. Read this only one waffle maker. The rest of the food was over cooked. Sorry to report that a place that has been I business as long as they have, could not get it right. Will be eating elsewhere

It's a 50's diner, from the decor, the uniforms, and the background music. The bacon is actually cooked TO ORDER (a rarity these days) and great (strong) coffee. Great complements to otherwise good food (huge breakfast variety) and friendly servers.

I want to give this place a horrible review because of the service but I can't because the food was so damn good! A large group of us decided to eat here on our way home from a road trip to Pismo. When we walked in we waited at the host counter only to be greeted with a "what do you want". I thought the host was just trying to be funny but I realized he wasn't when I replied "to eat" and he just gave me a blank look. After waiting a few, uncomfortable, moments he begrudgingly took us to a booth. When we sat we debated leaving but a few of us were too hungry so we stayed. We ordered a good amount of food and we all liked our dishes. Especially my Chicken Alfredo, I still have cravings and seriously consider driving back there and be treated poorly just for that dish. Mmmmm!

A classic SB staple in downtown area. If you're looking for a hefty Italian meal this is your go-to place with strong cocktails! It can get busy after 7 so there could be a wait time but no reservations accepted. There is plenty of seating and the service is excellent. Love the upscale diner style interior!

Unbelievably unprofessional and no regards for making things right. Place was empty upon arrival, placed our order and was waiting for over half an hour. Server never checked in on us or to explain why it hadn't arrived. Spoke to hostess and once Manager got to us the food had still not gotten to us. Left without our food!!!! Disappointed and very unprofessional!!!

The food was good but the fries got cold and didn't taste good after that but everything was amazing. imma season type of guy but some plates needed more of that but that just mine opinion

Joe's Cafe is your classic historical restaurant that has stood the test of time since 1928. It's definitely a staple here in town and known for their stiff drinks. My friends love coming here whenever there's an event happening in town and we always meet up for breakfast. The ambiance here is dated, but with a classic old school feel. It's pretty loud and busy here, so if you're looking for a nice chill place to dine at, then this isn't the spot. They do offer table seating outside though, and the view is great if you want to people watch on State Street. The service is always great here, but a little slow depending on how busy it is. For my order, I usually gravitate towards the All American breakfast. This comes with two eggs, bacon, sausage or ham, home fries or hash browns and a side of toast. When my plate was served, it only had one slice of toast! I quickly pointed it out to the waiter, and he was kind enough to bring me the rest of my bread. If you plan on ordering a mixed cocktail here, then expect it to be extra heavy handed! You have been warned. I recommend asking them to make it on the lighter side if your liver can't handle it. Overall, this place is a piece of history in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara and one that I do like coming to on occasion.

Service- Honestly, the wait wasn't worth it. We got here around 11:20, and were promised 11:45. We weren't seated until 12:00. I've never wait this long to sit inside a restaurant. When we walked in there was plenty of booths and tables open, but they made guests wait outside. Food- The food was pretty alright, it wasn't life changing to the point where I would return again. We ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo which is basic, but we wanted a simple dish to compare to other places we've been too. I understand they may not be known for their pasta, but waiting long to even enter the restaurant made it seem that way. Ambiance- The ambiance was good, there's plenty of seating inside. There's a bar area, if people are dining for cocktails or just want to chill. As far as the service, lady was super sweet and did her best. We sat at a booth which was nice because it was enough room for five people. The menu underneath the glass table was a nice touch. Overall, very pricey for a diner quality food, but nothing to miss here especially with better options around state street and surrounding areas.

This must have been a happening restaurant back in the day. I have been there several times, but this last visit will be my last. Overrated, and not very good food! I ordered a Turkey Burger, and it looked like a well done piece of wallet when served. The salad was eatable but nothing to write home about. The waiters all wore fancy uniforms, and were nice. Yikes! These people are riding on an old established eatery, but doesn't hold up!

Old world vibe with a beautiful diner ans bar setting and a drape of lights that meet in the middle. Service was fast and smooth. We came in on a Monday. My friend was sick and ordered a hot Toddy and instantly the waiter knew what she was talking about. Strong black coffee and great portions as well as prices. The waffle with fruit was filling and delish as well as the eggs and pancakes. Most def a place to get breakfast when in Santa Barbara. :)

Growing up in SB we would always either start the night at Joe's for the drinks or end the night for the late night food. We popped in there the other night, because i've been craving a good Cosmo. Joe's did not disappoint! They pour you your martini and also a little side kick. The stack of onion rings was a delight. And i love their salsa and bread. It was a great way to end the night!

Stopped for breakfast on our way to Santa Maria. Service was great friendly, helpful and attentive. We didn't wait to long to get our food. I tried their bacon and eggs and it was pretty good. I wanted to try their pancakes but those were a bit of a disappointment I would give this place 4.5 starts. There is indoor and outdoor seating. The music they played was good and had tv so you can watch sports.

We went to Joes cafe for lunch and it did not dissapoint. We had the smash burger, roast beef dip sandwich and the prime rib dinner. The food was delicious, the service was great and the restaurant was very clean. We highly recommend this place.

This omelet revived me from a long night out, and dang it tasted soooo good. The generosity with the avocado was much appreciated! The biscuits and gravy were also well proportioned. The best part of Joe's though, was the service! Our waitress was so welcoming, kind, and efficient. I definitely will be returning to this classic themed restaurant next time I'm in SB!

We went into Joe's Cafe at 9AM on Saturday morning. The host was clearly uninterested in her job. Despite there being open tables, she acted like it was an inconvenience for us to ask to be seated. They don't provide menus, which made ordering more difficult. Our food took 45 minutes to arrive, possibly because there was a large party of 12 before us. The food tasted good overall, but the home fries had a soapy taste. The restaurant was somewhat dirty, and the prices were high for the quality and experience. However, the waitress provided good service.

My experience was pretty awful here. high price is ok but food quality and service was very bad

Ordered half a grilled cheese, received a fourth and gross tomato soup. Very disappointed in joe.

This is a busy restaurant on a Saturday night and very loud too. But we didn't have to wait for a table when we walked in around 7.30pm. I noticed that most people were mainly by the bar having drinks. Food was average but drinks were good. Service was friendly and pretty good for a busy night. By about 9.30, they had cleared out some of the tables to allow people to stand around in groups so it seemed more like a bar then. I don't think I'll be returning to eat there but maybe just for drinks

The food was very good. It is our go to breakfast cafe when we are visiting Santa Barbara. The service was really phenomenal . Our waiter, Eric was amazing. It is a really cool older cafe (since 1929) and the ambiance is really nice. The have a beautiful bar there as well.

Sooo. Was passing through Santa Barbara on a Friday evening with my better half. We live in Ventura, but felt like trying something new... so why not downtown state street. The sun was still up but it was about that time. As it neared dark, we have walked most of downtown state street and landed at Joes. Tbh, joes wasn't our first choice, but service was lacking at our first choice. Anyways, we were pleased on our choice. From the outside, you'd never know how lively it is inside. The staff all were friendly and engaging as were the guests. It was a Friday evening and there some lubed youngens, but all were having a blast! For dinner, I almost went with the special pot pie, but opted for the Cuban sandwich. I give it a solid B. Nothing really wrong with it, but may or may not get it again should I return. 4 stars for the service and atmosphere. Better tasting food or anything else over the top would have earned the 5th. I'd return and recommend a friend to try.

Joe's has been a SB favorite forever, since 1928! I have many, many fond memories coming here over the decades with family and friends. Joe's used to be located in the building just to the right on State of where it currently sits. It moved to the corner location in 1985, and then was later bought and is still run by the Montesanos (Lucky steakhouse, jeans, etc.). The Montesanos did a nice job of maintaining the original, old school diner vibe, while upscaling it a tad. You will find the same cozy booths, checkered tablecloths, high and meticulously crafted ceiling, impeccable service, stiff drinks (not as ridiculous as Harry's), diverse menu (steaks, pasta, hot sandwiches, dips, prime rib, etc.), with a touch more refinement (and higher prices) than in years past. Lower State was considered downright sketchy back in the 60s and 70s, and older restaurants (are there any others left?) have necessarily upped their game with the times and increased tourism. This latest occasion was for my birthday with family after a movie. We were seated immediately as it was relatively early. My wife and I ordered a couple of drinks - an aperol spritz type thing and a Mai Tai (it's my birthday after all!). We started with some nice sourdough bread and salsa, which may sound odd, but used to be delivered to the table without asking - it's an old habit. We ordered two sirloin steak sandwiches, braised beef ravioli and a burger. I love the steak sandwich - it's a manageable and tasty piece of meat, perfectly cooked with a nice portion of salad (blue cheese please), fries and a couple of onion rings, reasonably priced. The fries are nicely cooked and tasted super fresh IMO. The side salad is chopped iceberg with shredded carrots and croutons. The ravioli was a good portion and delicious. Burger ok, perhaps a touch dry. We finished with some house-made cherry pie and ice cream. We were happy campers. If you are looking for mind boggling culinary creativity or uber-crafty cocktails, look elsewhere; Joe's Cafe is simple, comfortable fare, stiff drinks, great service, a fun crowd and a cozy environment that has not changed much in the 50+ years I have been coming here and the nearly 100 years it has been in existence. Long live!

Cathy is the best person in the service industry. She treats our 3 kids with the utmost respect and the conversations with Cathy over breakfast are the best! We love you and love Joes!

Walked here while our car charged for breakfast. Right when you walk in, you are greeted with the ambiance of a classic cafe. The staff was amazing and suggested their favorites. Our group went with The Champion, breakfast burrito, and lox (not on the menu) and everything was delicious! 100% recommend this Santa Barbara gem

Great coffee, fantastic bacon, perfectly cooked eggs, excellent hashbrowns, and Fiona, a beautiful attentive, waitress Joe's Café a great breakfast.

We used to love this place, everything was so good...not anymore ordered the steak sandwich medium well and special order prime rib sandwich medium well. Prime rib came and was a fatty bloody mess on top of a piece of

When I am super hungry, I don't read reviews. This is my fault for not checking with my helpers. This is like a Dennys. Nothing special or great. It did contain my hunger, which boyfriend appreciates. Until next time, Santa Barbara , I will do better and read my reviews

Open since 1928. Joe's Café is a real Santa Barbara staple. Every time I visit town I pass it but was lucky enough to have time this visit to stop in for my first time. We chose to do breakfast although I know it is also popular for dinner. Located on State Street it's a beautiful walk filled with other shops and restaurants and is closed to auto traffic so it's pedestrian walking only. Inside is really large and open with a lot of different seating options both booths and tables. We were able to be seated immediately after arriving and our waitress was fantastic. She was extremely polite and very quick with everything. There are large parking lots located close by and the first 75 minutes is free, after that it's $3 an hour. They have a pretty large menu that's filled with all sorts of different dishes. Being that we stopped in for breakfast I chose to order my favorite breakfast dish: Eggs Benedict. It was truly great and the eggs were cooked perfectly. The hashbrowns weren't my favorite but I still finished them and overall really enjoyed it. I also got a cup of chili on the side and thought it was very good. It had beans and meat but still I was a big fan. Their coffee is strong and the iced tea is homebrewed and delicious so I would recommend ordering both. Overall a really great meal and someplace that I would definitely stop at each time I visit Santa Barbara. Service is fantastic and pricing is fair so it's a real easy recommendation to anyone.

Pricey breakfast, standard fare. Joe's has everything you would expect from a local cafe. Eggs and bacon, decent coffee. Nothing to write home about, but it will get the job done if you're okay with shelling out $21 for breakfast and coffee. The environment was cozy, people were mildly friendly. It was fine, and just that.

Lets keep it Real, and lets after it! At Joes Cafe for me it's one and done!! The service was beyond terrible! The ambience their is none, has about as much warmth, and inviting atmosphere, as a mortuary!!! I had ordered an omlettte, the portion was small in size, I had ordered wheat toast that didn't come to the table far after I was done. They had made some reference to the kitchen. The server never came back to refill my coffee at any time!! I guess this is the Santa Barbara casual, laid back, cool service! It wasn't even busy! What happens if they really were busy, then what?? Another thing I had asked for fruit instead of potatoes, and it came with potatoes, the server melanie said, here are some free potatoes, in which I didn't eat one! Since 1928 its time to close!! Upon my departure I was able to speak to the manager had ,a personality like a wet mop! The Keeping It Real Guy, who always will, and has always have, keeping it Real for all my fellow yelpers!

Love this little spot in Santa Barbara, we came here a few times. I love the vibe and the lights in the restaurant. Service is pretty fast and they are very kind. The food is ok, not maybe 5star but it's good enough.

Smash burger was delicious and the french dip sandwich too. Service was exceptional- all the waitstaff was super friendly and helpful. Would eat here again.

My husband I made a spontaneous early morning trip to Santa Barbara for breakfast. We stumbled across Joe's and we are so happy we did! Amazing food and service! My first visit, will definitely not be my last!

Fried Calamari * crust fell apart from picking up/did not stick well to calamari * would not recommend Lasagna * generous amount of meat * on the saltier and saucier side * did not particularly stand out in taste Fettuccine Alfredo * super creamy, buttery, and cheesy alfredo sauce * salt and pepper at every table to season to taste * must try! * orders came with a standard ceaser salad and bread slices (which were dense and untoasted) * energetic environment with friendly staff 7.5/10

I have been going to Joe's once a month since 1975. That's 50 years. I have prime rib. Rare t med rare. The past 3 times I have been there they tell me we are out.???? At 5:00 pm. You are out. No the waiter said we don't serve rare or med rare prime rib WTF. You don't serve prime rib rare? Your chef is an idiot. I will go to Harry 's now. Lots of locals tell me Joe's has gone down hill. NoW I belive it. 15 lb prime rib 8 bone. 15 min per lb. Heat over to 500 degrees. Roast for 30 min ,reduce heat to 225 degrees for around 2 hours. Test with instant read thermomer. To 115 degrees. Let rest. Put the roast in around 1:00 pm. It's ready at 5:00. Put one in at 2:00 and one at 3:00. Easy. AFTER 50 YEARS I WILL NEVER GO BACK. If you can't do it right takevit off the menu. The owner is a steak man does he approve of this culinary disaster?

We visit S.B. often but had not eaten at Joe's Cafe yet. We usually have our dog with us because S.B. is so accomidating to dogs. Anyway busy time outdoor seating was full. We waited... The servers and staff were so attentive to us that they accomodated the dog and us for lunch! Sooo nice. Bradley was our server. He is a very attentive and sweet young man. Everyone there was so nice and friendly and the food was served quickly. I had Joe's crab sandwich and it was good.

Came to this cafe which has been here on the corner for almost 97 years! The food is super and our server Carlos wearing his suit and tie and jacket was outstanding! Inside takes you back in time with the decor. Great place for anyone anytime.

Strongest drinks in town, gets really exciting after 9 PM. Highly recommend them if you like a strong drink and we will be back.

Food was good, but service ruined it. We had been avoiding Joe's lately based on bad experiences (food not cooked as ordered or being served a used bread basket with half opened butter packages), but somehow thought that we should give it another try. My wife ordre a prime top sirloin done rare, it came well done. The manager and a hostess came over asking how our food was, and we let them know about the steak being way overdone, all before the server came by last and ask for the third time (for us) what is happening, then takes her plate away, with no affirmation regarding ant will happen to our food. By the I've been served my plate, and am just waiting as it is getting cold for my wife to get hers as ordered. After a little wait, she gets hers steak done rare as ordered. Good steak, good sauce, and good sides. Food was great, we just had to have it one after the other, which is not what we pay for when going out for dinner at a supposedly semi fancy place like Joe's. If having yet another experience getting food not done as requested wasn't enough, they CHARGED us FOR TWO steaks, after they offered to redo the one they had not done as requested. Any restaurant that respect themselves would not charge for a plate they messed up the order for, leading to the party having their food asynchronously (which is the opposite of why they pay to be there for), yet alone charger for two plates after one is not done right and taken back. Scandalous. Good cooks buy the service had to be revised if this place aims to be keep going.

Lunch today was so good! We had the garden burger, green salad, and side of baked potato. Everything was fresh and very delicious. Cadillac Margarita was even better; very tasty and surprisingly not too sweet. Service was great. I will return.

I was spending the day in SB and decided on this place for lunch after reading about the history. It wasn't very busy and was seated right away. The friendly server came over and took my drink order, which was the spicy margarita. They boast about serving a stiff drink which is great, I don't mind paying $15 for a cocktail as long as I'm getting what I'm paying for. The margarita was very good and no disappointment. I then ordered the cheeseburger, cooked medium & fries extra crispy. Didn't wait too long and it came out exactly how I wanted and was delicious. I love the nostalgic decor being how old it is, nothing fancy but very cool. There were a lot of regulars that came in and the staff welcomed them by name, that was nice to see. I will definitely come back again when I'm in SB.

Passing through Santa Barbara and found this little cafe so we thought...why not We were seated right away and the server started out attentive We ordered the steak open face sandwich and a beef dip What we didn't like was the the salad was on the same plate as the sandwiches We were waiting for them to be in separate dishes and served prior to the main meal Very basic salad My steak sandwich was a bit tough and all the "sandwich" was, was toasted bread and meat Would have been tastier with lettuce tomatoes and sourdough bread My husbands beef dip was tasty though Soda refills would have been nice too ‍

Joes Cafe " Stiff Drinks Good Food" still a Santa Barbara institution . Slangin good wholesome fare seven days a week since 1928. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I had fhe biscuits and gravy, and a coffee. The proportions of the biscuits were generous with plenty of delicious gravy in top. Could be enough for two. Fluffy and decadent, more like a savory cake. The staff is so kind, I had my big scary dogs because my car was being worked on nearby, they brought some extra bacon for them and water. So fun to sit outside in the street while State Street is closed to cars. People watching spot and lots of fun.

Decided to stop by for a snack and was pleasantly surprised it was Pot Roast Tuesday. That right there would have gotten 5 stars, but the cherry on top was our server Cathy. She was so special and immediately made us feel at home. She brought such a charm to state street that will keep us coming back. Thank you Cathy!

If you're reading this because you're hungry, just get in there! Spacious and accommodating restaurant, comfy booths, and wonderful service. The hostess sat us and then came back with two coloring pages for our youngest offspring. A nice family friendly gesture that was very much appreciated. I adored our server, her name was Mayerlin (I think that's her name my mule had a LOT of tequila in it) - anyway I hope my husband tipped generously. He just learned exactly how much college tuition will be for one of four children . Yikes! THE FOOD, cmon Kimberly- talk about la comida! The menu has quite a variety of options: Salads, Sandwiches, Burgers, Pasta entrees, large plates, plenty of sides, Daily Specials, and it was difficult to decide. To start, I ordered a mexican mule. It didn't come in a copper mug, BUT it was very strong and delicious. I had the turkey french dip with a side salad and sweet potato fries. The turkey was tasty and the bread was fresh. The au jus was way too salty, and was lacking in the flavor department. The sweet potato fries were crispy and savory. The major risk with ordering sweet potato fries is that they may be soggy, and these were perfect! The side salad was also excellent, thanks for the croutons. My husband had the tri tip french dip, and he said it was great. Our kids said the chicken tenders weren't very good, and my hubby tasted one to report that they were just ok with a slight taste of old grease. The onion rings were excellent, and completely devoured. The other daughter had a caesar salad that was average. IMO it should come with some breadsticks or a little garlic roll. I ended my meal with a latte to go and I really enjoyed it. I typically drink overpriced flavored drinks with oat, soy, rice, or almond milk. I'm not even lactose intolerant- I'm just high maintenance as a side hobby. This latte was just fresh tasty full bodied coffee, and frothy lovely milk. They had some very tempting desserts- maybe next time. Thanks Joe's!

Literally stood where the sign said to wait and 2 employees saw saw us... and walked right past us. No hello. No "we'll be right with you". Rude. You're not even that busy right now.