Original Joe's Walnut Creek

The food at Original Joe’s was delicious, the staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was great! The only downside was the long wait — about an hour and a half — but it turned out fine since we enjoyed walking around Broadway Plaza while waiting. Overall, it was worth it and we’d definitely come back again! Fries zucchini is a must!! My porterhouse steak seems medium rare although asked for medium, but I enjoyed it. It would be great if their online reservations was operable for weekends, we just walked in on Saturday that’s why it took longer to sit.

My husband and I had lunch at Original Joe’s in Walnut Creek today, and it was wonderful! The fried calamari was absolutely the best — perfectly crispy on the outside and tender inside. The decor is luxurious and outstanding, making the whole dining experience even more enjoyable. We’ll definitely come back again soon!

Three days in a row at Original Joe’s - and each one was a pleasure. By coincidence, I happened to stop by for lunch three days in a row, and every single time the food, service, and atmosphere were outstanding. The beef was tender, juicy, and full of flavor - truly melt-in-your-mouth good. The Chicken Parmigiana came next: a generous portion, perfectly cooked, rich, and satisfying. And on the third day… Joe’s Famous Hamburger Sandwich - simply amazing. The bun was slightly crispy on the outside, soft inside, and the flavor combination was spot on. Everything here feels genuine - from the warm welcome to the attention to detail. The managers and staff are exceptional - kind, attentive, and clearly proud of what they do. If you’re looking for a place that combines great food with heart and atmosphere, Original Joe’s Walnut Creek is the spot. Thank you for three great lunches - I’ll definitely be back

We hit up Original Joe’s in Walnut Creek on opening weekend and it was like trying to get into a nightclub that serves meatballs. No reservations yet, just pure first come first serve chaos. We showed up at 4:45 and the soonest table was 8:30. Like true food warriors we put our name down and retreated across the street to Cooperage for a pre-dinner dinner. At 7:45 we got the text that our table was ready. Of course by then we were already home in sweatpants, but we threw on our shoes and rushed back because apparently we will run for food. We started with mussels and meatballs and both were excellent. For dessert I had the sundae which was solid while my partner went with the butter cake. The butter cake was decent but a little dry and overcooked which felt like the food version of a bad first date. Considering it was their opening weekend the experience was still a win. I grew up going to the Original Joe’s in San Francisco so it is pretty great to now have one right here in Walnut Creek. We will be back for a proper dinner and brunch once they get reservations going. I am sure this will end up as one of our regular spots in town.

I came today with a fiend to celebrate my birthday but we didn’t have the best experience. Service was so mediocre, we got sat in a secluded area by an exit outside, the server just asked what we wanted to order didn’t seem to be an experienced server but when I asked where he was from it completely made sense he’s European and we literally got the European experience, he couldn’t care less. For food we had the crab-cake, the beef carpaccio, the NY steak and the Branzino. The Fish was so tiny for the price, we had to return our steak because the meat was old and smelled bad, no manager came to touch the table and ask if we needed anything. Our appetite was spoiled so we decided to order more drinks cause they were good and some truffle fries, we received regular fries and the food runner took them back to rectify the mistake but then took another 25min to get the right order of fries. We wanted to cancel them at that point but the server said he already closed our check and nothing can be done. So asked to be boxed to go and he brought us back the box with no sauce or ketchup. Just overall he wasn’t even trying. Really bad service and food was just ok nothing wow. Drinks were amazing.

Original Joe’s out here in Walnut Creek is the spot you want to be - even at opening rush hour when it’s buzzing, the team makes you feel welcome from the second you walk in. The place has serious style: modern design with a centered view of South Main Street, a lively bar(mmmm, those drinks), a kitchen bar? for the action, three dining halls, and a cozy fireplace vibe. Service? Think organized chaos in the best way - the staff moves fast, always checking in, and clearly cares about making your night great. How’s my friend said – minion’s family 👍 The portions here are no joke - yes, prices lean higher, but one look at your plate and you’ll get it. The calamari was spot-on, and the entrées are pure comfort-food glory. Better think before you order😉 Drinks are a must - every one we tried was unique and expertly made. Big shout-out to Sarah, who’s crushing it at just 22, and to GM Chris, who knows exactly how to treat guests and keep them coming back. Pro tip: stick around for the after-hours treat - it’s the cherry on top. We’ll be back… tomorrow. No joke.

Wow, everybody needs to try this place at least once (and you'll get hooked). It's a very popular place and seems like you should make a reservation to avoid a long wait during peak mealtime. The service was amazing! Outdoor seating has plenty of heaters, a nice fireplace, and good music as well. But the best part was the food! Zucchini fries were addictive, really fun and good to share with everyone at the table and the entrees were especially good all-around. But the thing that will make me come back over and over again is probably the dessert(s). That warm butter cake rivals ANY dessert I've had recently and I would recommend in a heartbeat! Highly recommend this place!

The atmosphere is nice!! They have a side bar area and a huge dinning room. The dinning area is very spacious with a full size bar. The food was delicious 😋 we'll definitely be back soon! I'll be adding this to my list of favorites 😌 be sure to make a reservation asap!!!

We had a late lunch at this new Walnut Creek location . It was not even half full but it took 20 minutes to be seated, 10 minutes to get water, 15 minutes to get bread and over a half hour to get served and at that time, we were informed that the baked potato I had ordered was going to take 20 additional minutes to arrive. I changed my order to mashed potatoes. When they arrived, they tasted like reconstituted potato and were cold. The minestrone soup I ordered was good but luke warm. my husband liked the salmon. I found the menu very meatcentric - no non meat burgers. I was not impressed.

Solid place for lunch. Their Arnold palmers aren't too sickeningly seeet but pleasantly tart. Calamaria come out light and crispy hot with cocktail sauce and a white horseradish sauce. Yum! We also ordered the Italian jelly donuts and crab roll.

I've been eyeing Original Joes ever since it was announced to open in Walnut Creek. We checked for reservations for weeks and finally snagged an early dinner slot on a weekday night. The ambiance is top tier, service was good...but the food was so disappointing. We didn't enjoy anything apart from the appetizers and expected so much more from such a popular restaurant. I'd be open to giving this another try but do feel discouraged after our first visit. - bread bowl 0/5: stale, hard, and cold - zucchini fries 5/5: a must order. Savory, light, and crispy - calamari 5/5: loved this. Light, crispy, and the best tartar sauce - spicy rigatoni 2/5: spicier than I prefer with an overly strong taste of Calabrian chilis. The pasta was not al dente and much too soft. - veal milanese: 3/5: this was fine. Nothing to complain about but nothing especially tasty either. - side of ravioli 2/5: this tasted exactly like chef boyardee ravioli. Way too soft and not gourmet tasting at all - butter cake: 0/5: super overdone. So hard, dry, and crumbly.

Food and waiter service was good but the Chef was not. Wanted half and half with meatballs. The chef would not make it. I get it a lot at SF! Guess I'll not go to Walnut Creek anymore. I'll pass it on. Chef wanted to give me a full order of spaghetti and meatballs then a side order of raviolis for an additional $10!!

Delayed post from 10/20 The Team & I decided to make this a working lunch to discuss holiday tings for the people we serve. The wait was short, and the service was excellent, the ambience was a hustle and bustle sort of situation, and everybody seemed to be in good spirits. Me: The crabcake with truffle fries She: The CBR Wrap with fries He: The Chicken Caesar Wrap with chips Food was awesome love the sauce around the crab-cake and everybody finished their plate for the most part & wasn't finished was stuffed and a nice little box and put in a brown bag to go. I will definitely go back and see if they have a happy hour beforehand , not sure if I'll take The Teen because she likes ordering the most expensive steak without looking at the price! LOL I give this place for yum's up and I'll be back! Oh wait, I forgot to mention the bread they gave us before the meal, not sure what they put in that butter, but I give it an Oakland #Hella good.

My wife and I stopped by with no reservations on a Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. and we were quoted a three hour wait. While the wait ended up being closer to 2.5 hours, walk-ins are highly not recommended. When we were finally seated, we got a bar seat overlooking the cooks on the stoves in the kitchen. It felt like a chaotic scene right out of Ratatouille, where there's not a single second of downtime where a chef isn't running around. I personally didn't mind it, since it felt like a show, but I imagine those trying to have a romantic first date might not enjoy the atmosphere quite as much. The complementary bread basket you receive shortly after you're seated is divine. The sourdough baguette is fresh, and I really loved how fluffy the focaccia was. Don't be like me and ruin your appetite by having too many pieces of bread. Between the two of us, we shared the zucchini fries ($17.95), the beef carpaccio ($21.95), Joe's spicy rigatoni with two meatballs ($29.95 + $4.00 per meatball), and the chicken Parmigiana with Joe's ravioli with meat sauce as our included side ($36.95). As you might've guessed, this was way too much food for two people. We managed to finish the beef carpaccio but everything else we ended up packing up to-go. The mountain of zucchini fries you receive is absolutely enormous. The zucchini fries don't taste too oily and the included lemon basil aioli is rich and flavorful, but you're not finishing this appetizer unless you come with a group of six. The beef carpaccio was my least favorite dish of the night. The first few bites felt like flavor bombs, with flakey Maldon sea salt sprinkled throughout the beef and the grated Parmesan, but after a few bites, the dish started tasting way too salty. If there's one dish to get here at Original Joe's, it's Joe's spicy rigatoni. If you take a look around the restaurant, it's single-handedly THE dish that people are ordering. The pasta is cooked to perfection, and the rich creamy sauce has a wonderful kick to it. It's a large portion that two can easily share. Overall, the food here is solid, service is great, and drinks are well-made. I would definitely recommend dining at Original Joe's for a special occasion. With some careful planning, hopefully you'll be able to snag a reservation and not have to wait close to three hours like I did.

Super Juiced to have Original Joes in Walnut Creek!!! Italian food is always trending !! My friend and I came on a Friday and it was popping and were were seated within 20 minutes. We were seated but the vibrant kitchen and there was lots of action! Friend ordered the coconut margarita and I ordered the grand margarita which were both divine ! We then ordered the clam chowder bowl and it was delicious! We then shared the Veal Picatta with a side of ravioli with meat sauce ! 10/10! This was so good! Also had the complimentary bread which was super fresh and served with whipped butter ! We had zero room for dessert but plan to be back for more food ! Highly recommend ! Ambiance is amazing and makes you feel like you're in the middle of NYC!! I also ordered the Aperol Spritz and it was truly refreshing !! Can't wait to come back !!

We went to the new Original Joe's in Walnut Creek. Great place inside. All sparkly clean. William, our server was very good. All wait staff is very professional. I had the calamari appetizer and clam chowder for my lunch. My wife had the petrale sole. Calamari was delicious. Chowder was good. Petrale was delicious. The bread and butter were a nice touch. We will be back for a try of other foods.

Happy they reopened. Didn't have a reservation, but walked in on a Wednesday. There are 2 lines: one for the main dining room and one for the bar area. Wait for the main dining room was 1.5 hours, so we decided to wait in the bar line. Love the decor. The hallway wall to the bathroom is one huge collage of black and white pics. Pretty cool. Food was delicious - consistent with the OJ's in SF and Daly City. I had the prime rib dip with truffle fries. YUM. Had a couple vodka martini's, extra dirty - these were also really good. They have a huge outdoor patio and heaters for the evening. If you don't have a reservation (I think they only open 30 days out) be patient and prepared for a hefty wait.

I'll admit this was my first ever visit to an Original Joe's. I've heard legendary things about Original Joe's in SF but have been reading mixed reviews about the Walnut Creek location, so I was unsure what to expect. I managed to secure a reservation for Sunday dinner - I literally logged into OpenTable at midnight two weeks before, right when reservations were released. (I checked back mid-morning and saw that everything was booked!). When we arrived at the restaurant and checked in, we were seated right away. The ambiance was buzzing with energy - the restaurant was packed, music was playing loudly over the speakers, and there was a loud hum from all of the conversations. We placed our orders for appetizers shortly after being seated, and our appetizers were brought out quickly. From this point on, however, it seemed that our table was occasionally forgotten. After we had worked our way through two appetizers and a salad and waited enough time for our appetites to come back fully, we had to catch our server's attention to take our order for our entrees. The time between our server checking in with us grew longer and longer as the evening went on, and by the time we were ready for dessert, we had to flag down our server to clear our plates (we still had appetizer plates left on the table) and to see the dessert menu. We also had to constantly get someone's attention for water refills. Now, on to the food. We ordered the zucchini fries and calamari to share, and I split a mixed green salad with my dad. I'd been looking forward to trying to the photogenic zucchini fries, and they did not disappoint! Quite the showstopper, the zucchini fries were served in a mountain piled on top of a sliver platter. The herb aioli served on the side was dynamite as well. As the picture suggests, the serving size is quite large, and even our party of 6 couldn't finish all of the fries. The calamari was also solid, and each piece was perfectly crisped and salted. The mixed salad was refreshing - it helped cleanse my palate after eating all of the fried appetizers. For my entree, I ordered the spicy rigatoni. This dish looked and tasted simple at first, but I liked how the heat from the Calabrian chiles gradually built up over time. The noodles were cooked to the perfect texture, and the grated parmesan added just enough salt. I made sure to save room for dessert, since I had been looking forward to trying the butter cake for WEEKS. Decadent and served warm with a scoop of vanilla gelato and fresh berries, the butter cake definitely lived up to the legend. Another thing I want to note is when I made my reservation via OpenTable, I indicated that we were celebrating several birthdays; however, this wasn't acknowledged during our visit, which I found very disappointing because other restaurants on OpenTable have at least acknowledged the note in OpenTable and wished us a Happy Birthday. I really wanted this first experience at Original Joe's to go better, and I would consider coming back once they've ironed out these blips. Until then, there's a lot of opportunity for improvement.

After all the buzz from the San Francisco restaurant, we had reservations on the calendar, then the fire happened. It was closed for longer than we had thought, but we were lucky enough to grab new reservations when they announced the re opening date. Service- Our waiter was kind, but seemed spacey. We were a half vegetarian group, and he would only recommend meat appetizers. We ordered the dishes by their full correct name and he didn't understand which ones. We also think the bus lady was tied to our server, but they didn't communicate, so if we asked for a box and she came by after, we didn't know it was related and would think he's coming back. Could be due to noise, but was odd. Most notably, we ordered a bottle of wine, which we discussed sharing as a 4 person table. We didn't notice that this was the only small bottle on the menu. When he brought it out we mentioned that we didn't know it was that small, and he immediately opened it and said it's a special size. We would've changed the bottle. Atmosphere- As the buzz is still very big, the place is packed. People are running around everywhere, and the place is filled with families, kids, celebrations, etc. We also reserved a table outside, and were seated inside, which we thought was fine at first until the noise level never got better. Food- Starting with the star of the show- the zucchini fries are fantastic. Not being too bready is key to a good zucchini fry. The brussel salad was also fresh and yummy. The spicy vodka pasta actually did carry some spice which was a surprise. I got the marry me pasta without pancetta. I loved the flavor, it was delicious. My only comment is that it needed 3x more of the delicious sauce. Another person in our party got the seafood pasta, which they said tasted fresh and great. For dessert, the chocolate gelato was a good portion and had good flavor, but the star of the show was the bombolini. These little donuts were fluffy and light. They came with chocolate and raspberry dipping sauces to satisfy multiple flavors. Overall it was a good restaurant. Nothing bad, but not great. I do think it's very pricey. We also all discussed as a table that it would be much better as a spot to stop in for a martini and zucchini fries, but this is the opposite of casual with how long you have to wait and plan for a reservation. We'll be back eventually, just with better plans next time.

3.4/5 The new Original Joe's location is flawless and has a modern and luxurious style diner theme going. I was impressed by the decor and the inviting atmosphere of the restaurant. Servers and staff were all very professional. We had a reservation for 8:30PM on a Sunday but still had to wait half an hour. I suspect there was an error made and they sat someone else before us. When our table was ready, one of the chairs was missing. It was not a good look or first impression though I can extend sympathy because they are so so busy and still just opening. The food had very generous portions - calamari appetizer was huge and we could not finish it. They were fried crisp and were chewy. We had the chicken milanese and the veal. Both were good but I was disappointed in the ravioli they served as a side. It tasted like the kind you would get on an airplane :( I do want to love this place but the food was so-so. The desserts that other tables got looked spectacular though. I would come again to give this place one more shot and try the dessert. Unfortunately we were too full to try them on our first time here.

Being a new restaurant in the neighborhood, this place was packed. Reservations go quickly and if you don't have one the wait is long. With that said the service and food can speak for itself. Our server was very attentive and the food was well put and proportioned. We orders the crab cocktail and zucchini fries as starters. The zucchini fries are addictive and came in a huge tower enough to share with 3-5 people. The crab cocktail was fresh, light, and flavorful which contrasted well with the fries. For the main we got the lamb chops and prime rib. Everything was flavorful. The only thing I can say that can me improved was that the prime rib center had some sinewy parts that was pretty tough, but other than that everything was great. Most of the meat dishes came with a side of pasta or potatoes. Overall, very good value proposition for good food and ambiance. I do want to try other dishes here next time.

Was very excited to come here since they were temporarily closed-- we did a walk in because there were no reservations online. We were quoted 2 hours and we waited almost 4. I still waited because I was really excited to come here. You are able to put your name down and can walk around because they will text you when your table is ready. Honestly, such a cute place. Super busy, of course it's new, hence the wait time but honestly, it was rather underwhelming. The service was pretty bad, he did not check in on us, and I tried to get another drink for 45 minutes (I know, it is busy but his section was in a row and he would check on the tables beside us and would skip us?). The scallops were so salty, I love scallops so I was rather disappointed. The lasagna was great but the marry me pasta was also underwhelming. I would not suggest it. The only thing I truly loved was the dessert, the butter cake was absolutely divine. The presentation was beautiful and it was a great way to end dinner. Not related to the food, but in terms of the atmosphere, the tables are extremely close together and rather small. Even though, I only ordered 3-4 dishes, 2 dishes on the table would fill up. I asked for my app to be boxed automatically so I had room for the other dishes. He cleared the table next to us in between their meals but did not do that for ours and we were struggling to have our dishes on the table. He told us that he should just take away the share plates which sucked because we were doing family style and wanted to try each other's choices. The tables were so close together and the lady next to me was coughing, gagging and sneezing and honestly, also added to my bad experience. Like ew??? I don't know if it was truly worth the wait, I know it's new and maybe they are still playing catch up and trying to tweak how they run it but honestly for its name and it's price, do better.

I was a long time customer of Original Joes and Baby Joes in San Francisco. I was very excited to try this Original Joes restaurant which opened up in Walnut Creek. What a let down. This restaurant had none of the casual North Beach feel. The "Rain or Shine, there's always a line" slogan will probably hold for a little while, but I won't be in it. The Linguine Clams that I had were very salty, the service was slow until they wanted to rush us out of our seats in the bar area. The chicken Caesar salad was good but dripped with dressing. I'm so dissatisfied with this restaurant. Sorry, but it really needs improvement.

I have been a patron of OJ since I was a wee little girl living in the city. It's always held a special place in my heart. I was BEYOND excited that they chose the east bay as their newest location. I have been stalking the ressie and it's almost impossible so we went and waited. Girl group of 4 on a Tuesday night waited about an hour to be seated. Not horrible (quick tip you can wait in shorter line to eat/drink in bar area with full menu) The vibe was great and beaming. Full house. Great music. Amazing tasty food- zucchini fries and the carpaccio were hits. The spicy pasta was delicious. Butter cake and lemon meringue on point! OJ Hugo cocktail a must! Service was excellent. This will be a girl spot for the foreseeable future and plan on being regulars

Didnt get a chance to visit when they first opened so I was excited when they reopened. I had reservations on a saturday and it was so busy. I thought I would have to wait but I sat quickly. The customer service was amazing but the food took a while to come out. The drinks were amazing. The truffle fries were good a good shareable portion. The crab cake I did not enjoy it had a sauce and didnt seem like a typical one I am use to. The rigatoni was good but I will say the noodles were chewy. The chicken parm was good as well. I am a buttercake fan and I will say they had one of the best Ive tried . The ambiance was nice and dim the location is beautiful. The restaurant was clean.

Took a bit to finally snag a reservation at Joe's. The area around the hostess stand was pretty chaotic but the staff was pretty pleasant. We were seated out on the smallish patio. Our server was a friendly and out going guy. We started with cocktails and the calamari app and zucchini fries. So far, so good. The bread basket was mostly focaccia and a large crisp Parmesan toast. I prefer the sourdough in Daly City, but I'm not complaining. Ordered the prime rib, a Dungie crab sandwich, the Marry Me farfale, and chicken Marsala. Ordered a Caesar as well, but they forgot to bring it out. Prime rib was perfectly cooked and I liked the creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. Ask for a side of au jus. The crab was nice and sweet. The other entrees were good too. The real star of the dinner was the warm butter cake with vanilla ice cream... it was very very good. Overall, food was good, service was a little shaky. Refills took a bit, plus the issues of the salad. Expect a long dinner of 2 hours or more. If you don't have a reservation, it's about a two hour wait as well. Hoping the crush dies down after a few months... but we'll be back. 4 for the food, 3 for the service.

Try the veal!!! The veal Parmesan was pretty yummy. My son devoured the side of spaghetti. The house wine was okay. I don't think that I would order it again. The prime rib looked better than it tasted. My partner said that his prime rib was cold and the sides were bland. The service was phenomenal, and answers questions with a smile. Unfortunately, the prime rib was so disappointing that I doubt that we will return soon.

Delayed review and no photos because I was at lunch with a friend and didn't want to be rude. We give it a 4/5. Portions were huge and the start of service was amazing. I don't remember our servers name but she was sooo much fun and patient with us learning a new restaurant and menu! To start, their Albariño is great and the pour is huge! We ordered the zucchini fries which were 10/10. Huge portions, needs more dipping sauce and a few more lemon wedges, but other than that, we were so happy with our choice. My friend ordered the prime rib sammich which was good, but it was super fatty. This leads me to our next entree which was the short rib entree which was also 50% fat. The short rib was extremely fatty. I do like marbled meat, but it was a large of layer of fat on top of the tender rib. I would have loved a larger meat portion to balance out the rich puréed potatoes. I've seen photos of other people's orders which leads me to believe mine was a one off so I would order it again. We got the broccolini and we hoped it would be more charry but it was soft and blanched. As much as we wanted to love it, it was just okay. The ambiance was great and we are willing to chalk up the hiccups in food to the busy atmosphere. There are so many more items I'd love to try so I will be back in a few months when all the kinks are worked out!

Had a great experience here! Did a walk in and was seated within 10 minutes, maybe got lucky cause they were so busy. The waitress was very attentive and refilled our drinks often and checked in on us very frequently. The place is busy and it's a productive by staff always moving and going! Beautiful inside. The prime rib dip with cheese and onion was full of meat and delicious! The bag shrimp sandwich was loaded with shrimp and tasted very fresh! The French fries were cook great not overly salted! The aperol was delish, but lots of ice. Looking forward to coming back and trying more items on the menu!

ATTENTION, This Place has *ZANZE'S CHEESECAKE*! Zanze's cheesecake is a FAMOUS Bakery in SF. 90yr old owner retired & sold his Business to the family behind Original Joe's restaurants, whom have now taken over the recipe. Enjoy their Food & will be coming back For my Zanze's cheesecake

A fantastic new restaurant to the area!! Food is phenomenal at all their locations and even at this one. Was bummed not to see pizza but loved that zucchini fries were here. The dole whip cocktail was a hit and was all of our favorites. Carlo is the best server and brings such a positive experience to the restaurant. Even though the wait might be long.... It's well worth it. Atmosphere is classy and cool

The hype is a tad over the top; an hour & half wait to get in, okay so there was 6 of us, I can see where that is going to take a moment to get seated. It was loud & bustling, lots of peeps, workers moving about. The kitchen is open so that adds to the atmosphere. The menu had something for everyone - the prices are high. There was a starter of the warm artichoke dip & the crab cake; not overly impressed. There were several Caesar salads, one was supposed to be split, which was not done, thus another one had to added & of course added to our bill. The mains were: the lasagna, chicken scarpariello, prime rib, Dungeness crab roll, red wine braised short ribs & the seared scallops. The chicken scarpariello was NOT crispy yet rather soggy, the flavors were on point but not the main ingredient. The prime rib was supposedly 20+ ounces - not. For $45.00 you get 3, count them, 3 scallops ‍. The Dungeness crab roll was quite tasty, as were the braised short ribs. The lasagna, via my cousin was tasty. Onto dessert: there was an order of the spumoni ice cream, which came in a metal/ tin old fashioned ice cream cup, the person ordering it had a childhood flashback to a great time! And an order of the tiramisu, followed by an order of port. The tiramisu was divine, you could tell the spumoni ice cream was fresh as well I'd come back for a special occasion & once the novelty wears off.

Customer service was outstanding! That's always first for me. The environment was friendly for everyone ! Food was fantastic. I tried the original job es special! Outstanding delicious. Try it you won't be disappointed!

We came to try this new restaurant in a Sunday night. The place looks very nice and it has a great atmosphere. The tried the zucchini fries, which were very good. Drinks: coconut margarita, dole whip margarita and a moscato wine. All very good. Entrees: the bronzino was delicious. The noccu was superb and the ravioli very good. Our waiter, Nino was fabulous. Kudos to the owners and managers.

After weeks of trying to get a reservation to celebrate 1 year cancer free with my fiancé we finally got one tonight. Our reservation was for 8:30pm we arrived at 8:15pm, both of the hostess were very off putting. The hostess came up and asked us if we would sit at the bar seating and points to the very end of the bar next to the restrooms, I said I would rather sit a table... she then says "well if that's the only thing we have is that okay" which I said no she was very pushy and acted as if we needed to sit there. Then 5 mins later like magic there is a table for us. I could see the empty bar seating all night and tables coming and going with ease. Looks like no one else was being forced to sit there? Very rude and disrespectful. Besides the front staff. A+++ 5 stars all around.

It's the new new restaurant on the block so of course we all have to go check it out. Interior is nicely done, creating a warm Atmosphere, cool lighting and overall a great vibe. Reservations are hard to come by, but on a Sunday afternoon (4:30) we walked in, put our name down and then decided to wait in line for the bar area. 1/2 hr later we happily sat at a nice table and had the full menu to order from. We ordered drinks, wine and a Joe's Manhattan on the rock the ice came with a logo on it, a nice touch. Ended up ordering the beef carpaccio, zucchini fries and meatballs after much debate. Everything on the menu looked big and heavy. Meatballs came quickly and were perfect, next the carpaccio which had a ton of arugula, enough that had we known our zucchini fries would take 45 min the arugula was enough for our salad. Somehow our zucchini got lost and tbh that was kind of the signature dish we were looking forward to. At one point someone brought a pile high of zucchini to another table and we thought hey there's our fries. They must have told the server it wasn't theirs and it just went back to the kitchen. Then we saw another serving get delivered to someone who definitely hadn't been sitting as long as we had. Thankfully we were enjoying our table. Our server finally came to us and said oh you didn't want your fries to which we told her what we had observed. She asked us a couple times then do you want them or do you not want them to which we said if they're coming out soon, otherwise forget it shortly after they did come and they were freshly made and delicious. However, the mixup was something we definitely could've done without. To their credit, they haven't been open that long and when we got the bill, it was on there, but then deducted I would go again after all the excitement of a new restaurant has calmed down.

The hype surrounding this newly opened restaurant in downtown WC is insane right now, we went at around 3:30 on a Friday afternoon and the restaurant was absolutely packed. Originally the wait time was going to be 45min to and hour, but 3 seats opened up at the counter and we opted to take those right away. Staff was very attentive and came to check on us very quickly and frequently, always making sure water glasses were filled and we had what we needed! We had the zucchini fries and a started and the marry me pasta. Both were good but in my honest opinion a bit underwhelming. Everything tasted fresh and you can tell is prepared fresh but the pasta didn't wow me at all. The espresso martini was definitely the shining star of everything we tried! Over all not bad at all but I had slightly higher expectations based on the hype that has surrounded the opening of this place as well as the price range of their dishes.

Visit #2 on day 2 of operation. This time, we manned the counter. It's an experience all should have as you get to see all of the food offerings. Counter service was just as good as table service. Very Good, hilarious actually. Fun time. The experience and ambience is great in this place. I'll be a regular. This time. Split the 3/4 lb hamburger steak. This is the best value in the joint, Burger, 2 beers, fries, Less than 40 bucks. The aroma and taste A+. Served on sourdough. Russian River brews. Yah!

Finally made it over to Walnut Creek's newest addition -- Original Joe's! I've been to the Daly City location before, and they also have one in the Marina, but I was excited to check out this one. After reopening from their kitchen fire, the place was packed! Luckily, we were seated without a reservation since we came around 4:30 PM. A special shoutout to Manager Chris Brown for making the night extra special as we celebrated our friend's 50th! The restaurant was buzzing, with patrons waiting at the door, but the team handled it smoothly with plenty of staff on deck. Now, onto the food -- we started with calamari, crab artichoke dip, and a Cobb salad that was so filling. For dinner, I ordered the Joe's Filet Sole (not the piccata, since I'm not big on sauce) -- and it was perfect! My friends ordered the same, and one went for the Veal Parmesan, which was delicious too. Definitely adding that to my list for next time. Great food, lively atmosphere, and wonderful service -- we had such a good time!

I went in after the Grand opening and it was busy for Lunch service. I had slid into a Bar seat at the counter. It seemed it was self seating in the Bar area. I had ordered a Negroni with Tanqueray and it had a weird garnish. It had a big block and a little onion piece. It strangely worked and i opted for a Burger and side salad for Lunch. Bar patrons were Original Joes fans and came all the way over from SF to have lunch. My Burger was perfectly cooked pink and salad was basic greens. I did ask for Extra tomato slices since Burger didn't come with any. It seemed really busy but the Staff was on top of everything and small request. I will go back and try the Italian fare and maybe eat table side and enjoy the ambiance.

Original Joe's out here in Walnut Creek is the spot you want to be - even at opening rush hour when it's buzzing, the team makes you feel welcome from the second you walk in. The place has serious style: modern design with a centered view of South Main Street, a lively bar(mmmm, those drinks), a kitchen bar? for the action, three dining halls, and a cozy fireplace vibe. Service? Think organized chaos in the best way - the staff moves fast, always checking in, and clearly cares about making your night great. How's my friend said - minion's family The portions here are no joke - yes, prices lean higher, but one look at your plate and you'll get it. The calamari was spot-on, and the entrées are pure comfort-food glory. Better think before you order Drinks are a must - every one we tried was unique and expertly made. Big shout-out to Sarah, who's crushing it at just 22, and to GM Chris, who knows exactly how to treat guests and keep them coming back. Pro tip: stick around for the after-hours treat - it's the cherry on top. We'll be back... tomorrow. No joke.

We came here on a Monday evening after getting reservations through OpenTable and so glad we did. We got the spicy rigatoni which was a perfect spice, and the steak aka Bruno cooked perfectly. For an appetizer we go the zucchini fries, the portion is huge! We finished only a quarter of it. I loved that between servings, the servers clean up and give you new utensils. For dessert we ordered a butter cake that was a bit on the dryer side and not very warm but could've been a fluke. Would try it again. Great restaurant for get togethers.

Nice place. Lots to see. A big menu with all kinds of food. Friendly service. The raviolis were great lots of chops and tasty salad with anchovies. Lots of drinks to choose from

My ultimate restaurant checklist--silverware, bathrooms, and dessert: all passed my check list. Original Joe's is serving not just food, but vibes you can't ignore. First off, the silverware? On point. Bonus: the bathrooms were a whole experience--spacious, light cherry pink, with fresh flowers that made it feel luxe. The service? Immaculate. Like, everyone checked in, and we felt totally cared for. Sitting at the bar added an extra touch of excitement with a kitchen view. Zucchini fries? A must-order every time. The Caesar salad was a salty skip, lasagna didn't make the cut, but the lemon meringue pie? Absolute perfection. This spot has nailed that mix of class and comfort that keeps you wanting more". Will we be back... absolutely PS the servings are plentiful. You can share as we did.

This new location has a lot of potential but there are a few things they need to fine tune. 5-stars for the excellent front of house service and wait staff. Everyone who serviced our table was welcoming, friendly, and attentive. The interior space was clean and nicely decorated. 4-stars for the food. The calamari was the winner, with great texture and flavor. The bread basket was also very good. The aracini and lasagna was decent. The bacon turkey sandwich was ok, but the chips were oily and soggy. Overall, everything was just a little too salty. 2-stars for the wait time, and back of house/kitchen staff. We waited 30 minutes for a table, and an additional 40 minutes for our order. There were several mistakes along the way which caused an additional 15 minute delay (they forgot the bread basket, and brought a couple of dishes that were different from what we ordered). This place is worth a try if you're not in a hurry. Reservations are recommended.

Original Joe's Walnut Creek - the new kid on the block. Their grand opening day was 8/14/2025. This is the first location in the East Bay, with their four others located in SF, one in SJ, and one in San Rafael. My SO and I used to frequent the Westlake and Union St in San Francisco often, so we knew what to expect in terms of high quality, great tasting food. On weekends they open 10AM. We got there around 11:15AM and expected a wait with all the hype. We saw a news outlet announce the grand opening and also a post on a popular FB group. We were told it would be a 10-15 min wait for a table of 6. However, I clarified that our party was 4 adults and 2 kids. Hostess said the wait for an indoor table would be 45ish min bc we needed a booster and high chair and those can only fit at certain tables. We thought that was interesting, so we opted for the patio which did not have a wait. Pro tip: they only seat you when your whole party is there. We were seated around 11:50am, give or take a few min. Out on the patio, they have no heat lamps and it was quite windy in the shaded patio. Wish they had told us that! Had to go back to the car to get jackets. No biggie. They brought out a high chair but explained they ran out of boosters, so we had to stack two seat cushions to do a makeshift booster. Our server greeted us and told us off the bat that they were out of chicken tenders and prime rib. He also mentioned they could do a spaghetti with butter and cheese for the kids as an off menu item. We ended ordering the zucchini fries, spicy rigatoni, and side salad. My two friends ordered the eggplant parm, Cobb salad, and the spaghetti with butter and cheese for the kids. We also ordered bread for the table. The zucchini fries came out first around 12:25, then the bread at 12:30. Next was my side salad a few min later. This salad was the item that deviated most from the other O Joe's locations. It was just romaine, vinaigrette, and black pepper in a small bowl. I had asked for vinaigrette on the side but it did not come like that. I didn't want to send it back to an already overwhelmed kitchen. In their other locations, the side salad is huge and comes with cherry tomatoes and red onions. Not worth the $8.95. 30ish min later, the spicy rigatoni, Cobb salad, and eggplant parm dishes were out. The rigatoni was cooked well and the vodka sauce had good flavor and had a little bit of a kick for spiciness. We thought it was well balanced. We asked for crushed red pepper on the side to give it more of a kick to our liking. Only thing is that it came out on the colder side, like it'd been sitting out a while. At other locations we've tried, servers had to tell us that plates were hot and not to touch them. Friends also said that the eggplant parm was great. I wish I had a photo bc the potion was huge! Kids also finished the spaghetti with butter and cheese, so we'll count that as a win! We rank the dishes in order of most to least favorite as follows: - zucchini fries - eggplant parm - spicy rigatoni - Cobb salad - side salad With any grand opening comes with growing pains as all the teams work to get into a groove. We'll definitely be back to try in the near future and hopefully there will be heat lamps on the patio and food will come out on the hotter side.

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)

Original Joe's in Walnut Creek has a beautiful, classic ambiance - loved the sleek flooring, cozy booths, and well-appointed bar. We had a reservation for a special occasion at an off-peak time, but were initially seated right next to the bustling kitchen counter, despite the restaurant being relatively empty. Thankfully, they moved us to a quieter spot. Service was friendly and mostly attentive, though our server didn't mention that my veal dish came with a side - I missed it on the menu and was disappointed to miss out on trying the pasta options (like the spaghetti or ravioli). Food was a mix. The clam chowder and lemon meringue pie were solid. My veal chop Milanese ($42.95!) looked nice but was very thin and overcooked - dry and hard to cut. Creamed spinach with the prime rib dinner was tasty but seemed to be made from frozen spinach. Overall, it's a nice-looking spot and addition to downtown WC. The service and ambiance were strong, but for the $$$ price point, the food left more to be desired. Might give it another shot to see how other dishes fare.

We visited on their second day of reopening after the kitchen fire, and I have to say a Jerrod was fantastic. When we first arrived, we asked to sit at the bar, but were told we needed to put our name in even for bar seating. After waiting 30+ minutes and noticing others being seated right away, we spoke with Jerrod, who was incredibly kind and apologetic. He explained that the person we'd spoken with had worked the dinner shift the night before and that the name-list rule in bar area only applies during dinner, not lunch. He immediately got us seated and even brought another round of what we were drinking - such a simple (but mighty!) gesture that went a long way in making things right. It's rare to see that kind of care and professionalism, and I'm really appreciative of how he handled it. The whole staff was attentive, friendly, and clearly happy to be back open. A special shoutout to Mo, the bartender - she's amazing! I remember her from Walnut Creek Yacht Club and she truly knows her craft. Always smiling, upbeat, and a joy to chat with. Her drinks are fantastic! The bathrooms were spotless, and the overall ambiance is warm, inviting, and full of energy. So happy Original Joe's is back - we can't wait to return!

The food, the ambience, the prices -- chef kiss! Honestly, even better than the city locations. We couldn't be happier to have OJs in WC!

A True Taste of Italy! From the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for something special. The warm and welcoming atmosphere and well designed environment. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and made us feel like family from the start. Every dish was fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. I was so excited for the open kitchen where you can see staff cooking. Huge thanks to the Walnut Creek team for creating such a memorable dining experience. This has instantly become one of my favorite spots and can't wait to come back specially if open one at San Jose.

The food was fantastic and the service was as well. I came back the day of the re grand opening. It was a great atmosphere, very clean, and very new feeling. The food is pricey, it was around $39 for chicken with a side but it did taste good. The butter cake wasn't great but other than that it was a good lunch.

Came to OJ right when they opened at 11am on a Monday for lunch. Decided to sit at the bar since it was just my husband and I and there wasn't a wait. We frequent the OJ in Daly City and love it and couldn't wait to try the one in Walnut Creek. We started off with drinks: Manhattan and an Aperol Spritz. Appetizers: Calamari and the Meatballs - so good! Main course: Shrimp Scampi and Chicken Piccata with a side of Ravioli (my fave and "go to"). Service was great and quick! Recommend going on a weekday to avoid the wait but if you don't mind sitting at the bar and it's just you and another person...hang out with Adam! He's awesome! I mentioned we were celebrating my husband's birthday and he gave us a couple of glasses of champagne on the house! So nice! We were so stuffed and didn't get the butter cake but we'll definitely be back and maybe eat dessert first! Say hi to Adam at the Bar!

Dropped in the 1st week Joe's reopened. What a warm greeting despite the line waiting to be seated. We opted to be sat immediately at the "kitchen bar." Very comfortable and in the middle of the action. Watching wave after wave of patrons being seated was a sight to see. Food was well prepared and extremely tasty. My Prime Rib dip sandwich would rank as the Best ever! Well done for such a large menu and so many guests. Looking forward to our next meal at Joe's.

We tried to eat at Original Joe's after the protest on Saturday. The two hostesses were friendly and took our names for a 30- to 60-minute wait. We placed our protest signs next to us--just as you would with shopping bags--and sat quietly. After about ten minutes, a man in a gray suit came out looking angry and started lecturing us about "swear words on signs." He went straight to two elderly women in our group and spoke to them aggressively. When my 75-year-old mother calmly explained that our signs contained no profanity or offensive language, he became even ruder and said he "didn't care"--the signs made him uncomfortable. There was no posted notice asking guests to leave signs outside, and no mention of safety or staff concerns from anyone else. The hostesses seemed unbothered; the issue started only when the man in the suit appeared. There were roughly fifty people waiting, and his tone toward everyone was unnecessarily harsh. This wasn't about safety or neutrality--it was about how people were treated. We all left shocked and disappointed.

Truly can't miss with this place. The food was delicious and the atmosphere feels like you're in San Francisco.

I had a fantastic experience yesterday afternoon for lunch! The prime rib dip is incredible (I added caramelized onions, Swiss cheese & mushrooms to the sandwich & a side salad with a wonderfully light Caesar dressing. The service was friendly, patient & professional! Ambiance was terrific! The bar area is awesome, kitchen is super clean, dining room (and private event area) is simply beautiful. I'll definitely back soon!