Joe's Italian Cuisine

We have dined here for 27 years. We loved ever visit. The Food is always excellent and the service is warm, caring and attentive. It's the most romantic dining in Escondido... but what do we know ... we've only been married for 56+ years ❤️

Wanted to come here and found the best Italian food in town. Jose the chef personally came out and brought our plates that he specially prepared for us and it was so delicious. Thank you so much sweetheart we love you and are so proud of you! Thanks also to Maria, one of the lovely girls that also helped us. Best service!

We absolutely enjoyed Joe's Italian Cuisine. I ordered lasagna, and my husband had spaghetti bolognese. The atmosphere was lovely and the service was good. We will definitely be back.

We came here with a large group, they were able to accommodate us, fortunately, because we really wanted to eat here! The food is very good. Is it the best Italian food you'll ever eat? Probably not. However, it may be the best Italian dining experience I've ever had! I love the decor and the general ambiance. You feel like you've stumbled into a relative's house, and you are being treated like family! Service was very friendly and warm and professional. my eggplant parmesan was tasty and others enjoyed their dishes like linguine with clams, lasagna, etc. Reasonable prices. I would recommend checking out this place if you're in the area.

I visited my friends in Escondido and went here we had stuffed mushrooms appetizer, manicotti and veal parmesan and chicken cannelloni every bit tasty, fresh and delicious. Kudos to the chef because it was simply delicious. Nothing more to add. Thanks

Everything was delicious! We walked in and waited in the back waiting room to be seated. This waiting room was so decorated and really felt homey. After about five minutes our table was ready. For appetizer we ordered the stuffed mushrooms, for entrees my wife got the fettuccine Alfredo and I got the chicken cannelloni. Each entree came with a said of soup or salad and we both got the salad. They also came with bread which the server recommended they bring out first because the food is all made fresh so it takes a bit more time l. The bread was delicious with the whipped butter. The stuffed mushrooms were served on top of slices of bread and covered in a white cream sauce (maybe Alfredo) and topped with parmesan. It was so good! Then the salads came out about 15 minutes later. These were fresh salads with Italian dressing that was homemade and oh my goodness it was the best Italian dressing I’ve ever had in my life! So good! The fettuccine Alfredo was so creamy and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The chicken cannelloni was very good quality pasta and lots of cheese which I love. I just wish the marinara sauce was a little more exciting or they had used a more flavorful sauce. The server was great and patient with us because neither of us had been there before. The bill came and it was about $67 not bad at all for a meal for two of this quality. Also they have us mints with the check that were also delicious! Will definitely be back! Update: Came back and it was just as good! I did get to see Joe come out and talk to a few people which was an absolute honor! The pesto and carbonara were absolutely delicious!

Amazing place, the owner came to greet us, the restaurant has been there since the 80’s. Great atmosphere, cozy, food absolutely amazing. Reasonable priced, we ante an lot. Enjoy! M

My husband comes from an Italian family and let's just say, it is legit! We brought my father in law here, and it bought back memories for him. The Italian dressing was so close of tasting like his father's recipe! If you want some great Italian food, you must come here!

Joes is by far my favorite Italian restaurant in all of North County, dare I say the best in an hour radius. You aren't going to find a more authentic, cozy, delicious restaurant that ticks all the boxes. If you didn't know, Joe still runs things in the kitchen and has single handedly kept this ship going for over 40 years! His daughter, Angelina, is the main server and is always friendly and accommodating..providing recommendations and sharing stories of her working with her father for the past 20+ years. This place is a GEM. From the decor to the music, Joes stands out as a one of kind restaurant that you simply won't find anywhere else. Food wise, as a long time customer I have a few recommendations: - The straightforward Italian dishes...Lasagna, Eggplant, Chicken Parm and Cannelloni. These are all his specialties in my opinion, and the flavor is 10/10 every time. - Chicken Marsala is hands down my favorite, skip the other chicken dishes and give this a try if you're craving something sweet, rich and packed with flavor. - Pasta-wise you can't really go wrong with anything, they are all classic dishes that are done well, my favorite being the Carbonara (spaghetti or fettuccini). - Appetizers...don't miss out on the stuffed mushrooms, holy crap! You will end up wanting a 2nd order...they come with 4, so be prepared to adjust if you have more than 2-4 people in your party. - Lastly, ask what the soup is, and just order it! You can have a basic side salad anywhere, but Joe makes every batch of soup fresh that day, and he always runs out (just a heads up if you are dining late). I hate seeing poor reviews of this place on here, because they truly don't add up. You can't judge a place off its side salad, a basic pasta dish or the fact they only serve beer/wine. Use the recommendations about as guidelines and I PROMISE, you will fall in love.

It was a great experience. They took their time between courses, which I enjoy at dinner. Stuffed mushrooms were amazing! We had gnocchi, lasagna, spaghetti & shrimp. Everything was delicious. A great quiet vibe that felt really homey.

This was our first visit here. I was craving chicken Marsala. It's not on the menu but they will prepare it for you. My husband always orders chicken parmigiana whenever we go to Italian restaurants. The entrees come with soup or salad. We both ordered the pasta Fagioli soup. It was good but full of mostly pasta. The entrees came with vegetables and a small side of pasta. The pasta was good but on the cold side. Overall, my chicken Marsala was one of the better ones that I've had but the breast itself was on the smaller side. I don't ever finish my whole plate but I did this night. My husband said his chicken parm was good but was too small. He also wanted more pasta which was also cold. The bread was just ok, I don't think they make it fresh here. Overall service was great. The restaurant itself is small and cozy. There is street parking only and there's not a lot.

Visiting from out of town and we were staying close by. We ordered the lasagna and chicken picata. The picata was not our fav BUT the lasagna 10/10, just like grandma cooked it! The service was stellar and Joe even came out to check on us. I asked for an iced tea to go and they don't have to go cups but when I tell you they made sure I left with my tea, they made SURE. Such a fun, quiet and authentic experience!

They did not greet us at all!!!! Bad service!! My family arrived to celebrate a birthday and the staff did not acknowledge nor seat us

We came here with a large group, they were able to accommodate us, fortunately, because we really wanted to eat here! The food is very good. Is it the best Italian food you'll ever eat? Probably not. However, it may be the best Italian dining experience I've ever had! I love the decor and the general ambiance. You feel like you've stumbled into a relative's house, and you are being treated like family! Service was very friendly and warm and professional. my eggplant parmesan was tasty and others enjoyed their dishes like linguine with clams, lasagna, etc. Reasonable prices. I would recommend checking out this place if you're in the area.

WOW.. if I could give this place a 10/5 I would. First of all, arrive early when they open, otherwise the wait is likely to be long BUT so worth it. The interior is something special and very intimate and gives you something to look at! Second, the man whose name is on the sign of the restaurant is the one cooking your food! If you're lucky enough he will come out and say hello which is something special! We drove from Huntington Beach to this place on whim for Valentine's Day and let me just say, we will be coming back just to go to dinner at this place! It is worth the drive, the wait, and every penny!! Fresh made to order food with so much flavor and balance, it'll be the bar that all other Italian places are now compared to for us. WOW!! Absolutely amazing Oh and get the bruschetta and the garlic bread!

Walking into Joe's Italian in downtown Escondido on Grand Ave is like walking into an old school Italian eatery from a time long ago. The very eclectic, very decorative interior of this food establishment takes you back to an episode of The Sopranos. Our food was really delicious and a must try for those with a love of Italian cuisine. Our service was good but the server kept forgetting things and wasn't very knowledgeable about the names of dishes, yet very kind and attentive. We ordered the Garlic bread, Antipasto salad, Caprese Salad, Lasagna, Meat Tortellini with Alfredo sauce, cheesecake and a cannoli. Oh and of course some house red wine to enjoy with our meal! The garlic bread was soooo good! Simple, yet nice and warm, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The antipasto and caprese salads were amazing and full of fresh, clean flavors with huge portions! The lasagna had a deep, flavorful marinara sauce that you could tell was homemade and a recipe passed down from generations. My least favorite was the tortellini. The pastas were delicious but the sauce lacked any flavor to it. Im not one to order dessert, but I am in search of the perfect cannoli .. I found it. The crust was crispy instead of soggy like most i have tried. The filling was perfectly made and not grainy like other lackluster cannolis. This one is absolutely legit. For a nice night out with great, authentic Italian, this is a fantastic choice in the North County area.

Had dinner, just the two of us, at Joe's. The service was good, quick and very polite. The food was good for the cost, wine moderately priced, entrees fairly priced. It definitely felt homecooked, but not authentic Italian. I would definitely not discourage anyone from trying dinner at Joe's, but know what your going to get. My wife and I wouldn't hesitate to eat here again, overall it was a very nice evening.

So it's the day before Valentine's Day and the rain is falling and the music is playing and the service is fabulous. With such generous portions, we're taking home our leftovers to celebrate with a fabulous bottle of wine tomorrow night without the crowds, but with Joe's still in our pocket. It is always such a wonderful experience coming to this family restaurant.

Delicious food & the warmest hospitality. Joe offered me to enjoy a glass of wine while I waited for my table. The waitress was lovely and I had the clams with linguini in red sauce, which was delicious, and I got the tiramisu for dessert, possibly the best tiramisu I've ever had! I'm definitely going back!

Everything was delicious! We walked in and waited in the back waiting room to be seated. This waiting room was so decorated and really felt homey. After about five minutes our table was ready. For appetizer we ordered the stuffed mushrooms, for entrees my wife got the fettuccine Alfredo and I got the chicken cannelloni. Each entree came with a said of soup or salad and we both got the salad. They also came with bread which the server recommended they bring out first because the food is all made fresh so it takes a bit more time l. The bread was delicious with the whipped butter. The stuffed mushrooms were served on top of slices of bread and covered in a white cream sauce (maybe Alfredo) and topped with parmesan. It was so good! Then the salads came out about 15 minutes later. These were fresh salads with Italian dressing that was homemade and oh my goodness it was the best Italian dressing I've ever had in my life! So good! The fettuccine Alfredo was so creamy and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The chicken cannelloni was very good quality pasta and lots of cheese which I love. I just wish the marinara sauce was a little more exciting or they had used a more flavorful sauce. The server was great and patient with us because neither of us had been there before. The bill came and it was about $67 not bad at all for a meal for two of this quality. Also they have us mints with the check that were also delicious! Will definitely be back!

As I entered Joe's for the first time as a guy who grew up up in NYC among so many wonderful Chianti-bottled, plastic-grape adorned mom & pop old school Italian restaurants I was time-traveled right back to my Brooklyn/Queens youth. I was instantly hopeful that maybe, just maybe after living in San Diego for decades I might finally have found a red sauce, home-cooked Italian meal that was worthy. It sure was. The light n lemony piccata, the rich Marsala with mushrooms, the eggplant parm, the crunchy garlic bread...OMG I was home. Joe, his family staff and the Andrea Bocelli soundtrack...perfection. I've been back many times since. It's the best in San Diego and I dare say this little gem could give NY joints a run for their money. Come join me at Joe's some time. I'll be the one there with the biggest smile.

My friend and I ordered Bruschetta appetizer It was delicious, fresh tomato, garlic, mushrooms. Try it. Then I had Linguini Pomodoro. Recommend it. Rich and just the right seasonings. Best thing, Joe stopped at our table to ask how we liked the food. I also saw his kitchen. Immaculate, so well laid out. Treat yourself to a really special meal. With wine. 62.00.

Joe's never disappoints. Stop in last evening and immediately seated in comfortable booth. Immediately we had water followed by some delicious wine. Giuseppe "Joe" Onda immediately recognized us from the kitchen door and come over with warm hugs. My wife's eggplant and my Carbonara were perfect. As Joe says "All of our food is cooked to order and takes time. Please be patient." It's worth the wait.

Food was fabulous, great service and low prices. What more could you ask for. Do yourself a favor and try it.

This restaurant is an absolute gem! From the moment you step foot inside the ambiance transports you into Italy. So many cute decorations to keep you entertained. Candlelight opera vibes. So beautiful. The food is outstanding. We loved it so much that we went 2 nights in the same week. The fettuccine alfredo was to die for! I added chicken and mushrooms. It was so rich and creamy. My husband had the veal parmigiana and loved every bite. Their meatballs are fantastic; full of flavor. The service was quick, friendly, and attentive. This is our new favorite place and I wouldn't be surprised if we came here every week. We highly recommend Joe's Italian Cuisine.

Love Joe's! Quaint little family owned restaurant with good food, service and atmosphere in old town Escondido.

The food was amazing! Melanie our server was very attentive and nice! Such a great experience!

Awesome food, quaint ambience, excellent staff, what more could you want? I wish Yelp would give me an option to give them a 10 star rating.!

Joe's Italian Cuisine in Escondido is THE place to go for the best Italian dinners in Escondido. Joe's is family owned and run and they make you feel like family when you dine there with them. My daughter and I love his Veal Scallopini and my wife loves his Eggplant. His Stuffed Mushrooms are phenomenal and so is the Bruschetta, two awesome appetizers to enjoy with the house Chianti. Do yourself a favor if you never been to Joe's, you'll be very glad you did. Very cozy and intimate, a great place for that special night out! Dennis Galt Family Escondido, CA

This traditional Italian restaurant truly embodies the essence of culinary excellence. The food is extraordinary, and the staff radiates warmth and friendliness. A must-visit experience awaits you!

We absolutely enjoyed both the lasagne and cacio y pipe! Also, the carafe of house wine was very affordable.

Waking into Joe's you're going to realize you aren't in Kansas anymore. An eclectic collection of Italy themed tchotchke, art and memorabilia cover every square inch of the place. Intimate seating makes this an tight spot for larger parties but great for a date. It took a minute for plates to come out. But not without reason. Joe cooks everything himself, down to the salad dressing. So get comfy as it will feel more like a course serving setting once the apps come out. You won't be rushed to clear a table for the next party like larger establishments. Speaking of I highly suggest his bruschetta as there is no shortage of tomatoes. And splurge on the garlic bread if you can.

Great service. Parking is on the street so take that into consideration if you go. The food? Didn't enjoy it at all. Had the pasta and marinara sauce. It had a very strange flavor to it. The portion was large but I barely ate any of it because I couldn't get over the flavor. I've tasted jar marinara sauce that tastes much better.

Joe's is the classic Italian American restaurant that folks in Escondido ought to cherish, and by the looks of a busy Friday night: they do! It's a cozy dining room which seats around 30. Italian songs serenade you as you dine in the dim ambience. The service is top notch, attentive and friendly. I ordered the gnocchi with bolognese with a salad dressed in a zesty Italian dressing (their specialty). The sauce was not acidic but still tangy and addictive. Affordable Italian homestyle classics done in a charming setting means Joe's comes highly recommended. Five enthusiastic stars!

Excellent food, service & atmosphere! Had the Veal Marsala, very tasty, tender & saucey...just like I requested! Decor is a conversation by itself, which is possible with the well designed acoustics. Wine list short, but well paired. Overall North County must

Such a lovely restaurant with Italian scenery throughout! The food was excellent and service very efficient and friendly.

Hidden gem in escondido. The food was phenomenal. Massive portion sizes with tons of options. Better for small parties or date nights as most of the tables were about 4-5 people. Also they don't take reservations but they have an adorable waiting room in the back. Very killer vibes and 10/10 food. Our new favorite, no fuss Italian spot in San diego.

Solid menu, large portions, but nothing to write home about because the quality of ingredients is on the lower end. The table bread was, as my friend put it, "something you can get from Walmart!". The bruschetta was pretty good, topped with fresh mozzarella, but everything was cut too-big, making it difficult to eat. I ordered tortellini in white cream sauce and 1 meatball on the side. It came with a soup that had noodles and some veggies and tasted suspiciously of the canned variety. Everything was forgettable except the portion size on the pasta- it was surprisingly huge! My dessert was a mocha and I tried the spumoni- the cherry ice cream was especially awful to me (I grew up with cherry cough syrup) and 3 of us couldn't finish it. The decor was a bit cluttered and the space was small, giving it a homey vibe. Even the restroom was tiny. Overall, I would come back if friends wanted to, but there's so many other places in the area I am curious about that I wouldn't come back on my own. Pros: - friendly - average prices - made-to-order - food presentation Cons: - darkly lit - small tables - parking (unless you park at the transit center across the street) - lower quality ingredients

Best Italian food ever. The food was delicious the atmosphere was nice, relaxing and comfortable. The staff were super friendly and always checking on us. Their olive oil and garlic sauce was the best I have ever had over the fresh pasta with fresh cheese. I will be a customer for life and weekly. I recommend this hands down everything is cooked to order and so fresh.

As many other reviewers mentioned, the decor is eclectic and fun. The mirrors on the walls give the space a bigger feel. The music also added to the feel of the restaurant. Andrea Bocelli and other beautiful Italian themed artist played in the background. Our waitress Melanie was lovely and offered some great suggestions for our appetizers and meal. My friend and I started our meal with a carafe of classic Chianti which paired very well with our entire meal and heightened the experience and feel of dining Italian. I highly recommend the stuffed mushroom appetizer covered in mozzarella cheese, mushrooms stuffed with a sausage mixture on top of a slice of baguette surrounded by savory creamy sauce. The dinner included a side of soup or salad. The Italian dressing is zesty and yummy. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. At the end of our dinner, Joe the owner met and thanked us for dining with them. I look forward to having another dinner at Joe's Italian Cuisine in the near future.

We were just there last week, but when a dinner formulated in Escondido we chose to go back again. This t8me we had Eggplant Parmesan, Cappelini with Mushrooms & tomato sauce, Bolognese Ravioli, and Cappelini Carbonera. Everything was delicious. Portions were large enough for (some of our party) to take some home. Prices were very affordable. Service was friendly and professional. Ambiance was very nice.

Joe's offered hearty portions, but the flavors were nothing special. The wine menu was limited and my husband and I were both disappointed in the selections we chose. My favorite part of the meal was the bruschetta starter as it had lots of melted cheese. The chicken parm was good, but the pasta side was plain tomato sauce and penne, a better version of which I could have made at home. None of the friends I was with was overly impressed with their food.

Their home made mozzarella was amazing. Atmosphere was great. The main dishes not so much. Server seemed offended that I didn't like the soup sorry?! But I paid for it so what's the big deal. I asked for red pepper she came with black pepper and when I told her she gave me a dirty look. I just put my fork down and she came over and packed our food and gave us the bill. Like she wanted us out. The hostess was nice but the server made the experience horrible. Sucks too because that home made mozzarella thing they have was great

Well, had been looking forward to Joe's. We'd been twice before and were very happy. Hubby liked his meal, mine was ok but not many Italian flavors to it. And neither meal was especially hot, just kinda warm. Waitress didn't come check on us until we were pretty much done with them. When she took out orders she asked if we want regular or garlic bread. We chose garlic bread of course. When we got the bill there was an extra charge for it! $4 for 4 small pieces. She should have mentioned the extra when she asked. And heard her asking the same question at the table behind, not mentioning the garlic bread was extra. And not saying it was expensive, it was the fact we weren't told. Must say, after looking forward to a good Italian dinner I'm still looking forward to a good Italian dinner!

Love this place. The decor is cool and the food is delicious! I've never heard anything bad about Joe's.

My husband and went there at 9pm, they close at 10pm. There were only 3 tables eating in the entire restaurant. We were told at the door the chef does not want to serve any more people. We were just very bummed. We drove to downtown Escondido for this very restaurant and we were turned away an hour before closing. Don't waste your time

I had high hopes but Maria was the absolute worst server. It took thirty minutes just to bring our drinks and FIFTY FIVE minutes to bring out the salads (that had a pools of water in the bottom of the bowls) & soups which were cold!! They only offer Italian or blue cheese dressing for the salad unless you want to pay more for Caesar dressing (weird). Then, after an hour and a half, our food finally came out (also cold) and wrong. We were given four different excuses why everything was taking so long and then the owner's daughter blamed the chef in training. Like, really? Other tables (same party size as ours) that had different servers were in and out before we even got our appetizers (the cold soup and salads). I absolutely do NOT recommend or at least, request a server that is not Maria. It's a shame because the food actually had good flavor but I had to take it home to heat it up so I could actually enjoy it.

We have been to Joe's Italian Cuisine on multiple occasions and love it. The food and the ambience are amazing.

We took our guest from China there for dinner .they were vary impressed with restaurant and the staff, the food was great , the Houston wine was great,, the owner had our guest feel at home. My wife loved the sauté mushrooms on her veal Scaloppimi so we order a side plate of the sauté mushrooms we highly recommend this restaurant

I waited 45 minutes for fettuccine Alfredo and the chicken was frozen and chewy . The bill without tip was 28 dollars . The ambience was too dim and was not professional at all . Olive Garden is better and 5x cheaper . If you're considering going here please don't !

We always love coming to Joe's whenever we are nearby!! Literally everything is amazing and you will leave happy and full.

absolutely LOVE joes. the food is authentic and the staff are amazing. it's such a warming and personal place when you walk in. my fathers in a wheelchair and when we went they were extremely accommodating. it doesn't feel like they're trying to rush you in and out or your just another customer. you can tell they take pride in what they do. the food is amazing! the staff make it all the better!

When you walk into this local gem, you're transported to Italy with Italian decor in every corner and traditional music in the background. But the key are the smells coming from the kitchen! The food is made to order, so it won't be out in 5 minutes, but it's worth the wait! My husband orders the lasagna every time. You can't go wrong with that. I love the Chicken Piccata. It's honestly the best! Joe's is great for date nights and for a night out with friends. Most seating is booths or tables for 2 or 4. Bring your appetite, enjoy the garlic bread and the wine along with your favorite dish because you can't go wrong. It's all delicious!

Simply put, you would not find a better meal or experience if you were on the Italian Riviera. Simply mouth watering delightfully delicious foods, wonderful ambience,, with a warm family like staff that is on you needs with grace and warmth. Could not have had a better experience. Highly recommend!!!

I was in town and my gf and I decided to come in for dinner as Joe's was close to the hotel. I am SO glad we did because this place was so cute on the inside but most importantly the food was delicious. Everything we needed after a long day at the safari park. The restaurant is overly decorated in true Italian fashion, multiple booths inside with tables in the middle. It was so cozy inside and I loved the decorations that were hanging and the lighting. The waiting room in the back is cozy as well, comfortable and convenient. We came on a Saturday, a busier night. The service was amazing and our server Susie was exceptional. She was sweet, attentive and so warm and welcoming. We are from Los Angeles, so we are sadly used to fast, not so friendly service but Susie went above and beyond. The food was delicious and everyone loved their meals. I ordered the Meat Tortellini Romano, my gf ordered Fehttuchini Alfredo with chicken and my Goddaughter ordered the kids cheese ravioli. We pretty much ate everything because it was so delicious. Probably the best tortellini and fehttuchini we have had. My Goddaughter who is a picky eater devoured the cheese ravioli so I think that says a lot. We will definitely be back when we are in town for the delicious food and exceptional service. We hope we get to see Susie again! She's the sweetest and gave my goddaughter a small scoop of ice cream for being a good girl. Try Joes, you won't be disappointed.

Such an awesome find! Excellent food & service! The best bruschetta I've ever eaten! Along with the delicious chicken Parmesan for me and chicken pizzaoli for my husband. Our friends had lasagna and said it was delicious. I finished the evening with cannoli in spumoni. Looking forward to returning.

This place is so cute and kitschy. The food takes awhile to come out but that is to be expected when it's all handmade. Portions are large and prices are reasonable.