It’s 75 out, we are out on the sidewalk, listening to Italian music while this fountain to the right spouts water. Basically, it’s an unexpected setting that took us out of San Diego and made us feel like we were in Italy. Incredibly romantic with employees that truly care about your experience. Even Joe the owner himself came out to ask about the meals and gesture for us to stay as long as we want. Watch yourself Joe, we might be here til midnight! Thanks, super enjoyable

We are only in the area once a year, but we spend a couple hours of our trip here(2.5 tonight). Dinner is always amazing. Ordered all the desserts tonight and the family and I enjoyed every bit of them. Dark yes, romantic for couples absolutely. Fast most defenitly not, fresh absolutely. Portions very generous. Price extremely reasonable. Angelina always on point with service, year after year!!!

Nick Hofmeyer

We went for my wife’s birthday and experienced excellent service and delicious food. We ordered the stuffed mushrooms, gnocchi romano, and meat tortellini romano. The mushrooms were flavorful, the pasta was tasty, and the sauce was delicious. The bread served was okay, but the soup was good. The vibe in the restaurant was calm and nice. We dined with our young toddler and our server was so sweet towards him. There is a kids menu, which I forgot to grab a picture of, but did capture the rest of the menu. Highly recommend for some great Italian cuisine that feels intimate.

Paul Guess

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 ❤️

Jillyb84

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!

Karen Rosenthal

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.

Natori Stone

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.

Daniela Alvarado

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!

M W

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

Tracey B. Jenkins

Love Joe’s Italian! Such a cozy spot to enjoy a glass of wine and pasta meal! The interesting decor and big, red comfy booths are what I love about dining inside. My favorite dish is the stuffed mushrooms appetizer, but every pasta dish I’ve tried is good too. Looking forward to going back again for another enjoyable dining experience.

Bob “FinSassin” S

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

Crissy Leen

We came to celebrate our friend’s birthday. He has being coming here for literally 25 years and today I found out why. This is the rare kind of special authentic family restaurant that everything makes you feel good. The whole team including Mr Joe and his sweet daughter Angelina make sure you are happy and enjoying. I had a delicious cheese ravioli but also tried his amazing eggplant. The portions are big but you can always share or take home. And the ambiance is so cute and romantic. Will come soon.

Sean Conway

It’s 75 out, we are out on the sidewalk, listening to Italian music while this fountain to the right spouts water. Basically, it’s an unexpected setting that took us out of San Diego and made us feel like we were in Italy. Incredibly romantic with employees that truly care about your experience. Even Joe the owner himself came out to ask about the meals and gesture for us to stay as long as we want. Watch yourself Joe, we might be here til midnight! Thanks, super enjoyable

Joe’s is our favorite Italian restaurant! The food is authentic, delicious, and always consistent! I would highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun date spot. The stuffed mushrooms are the best!

We arrived a bit before 5 PM (they open at 4:30PM). Parking was available out front (there is more parking across the street). We sat at the front window table with a couple from our neighborhood. The food is alway very good. Tonight my friend and I, both ordered the special. It was penne pasta with sausage. $14.95. We had a coupon for 2-4-1 (not quite as it maxes out at 12.95). We ordered a 1/2 liter of wine, down from our usual litre, so as to keep the streets safe from us.

The owner Joe (Giuseppe) was born and raised in Calabria Italy and the food he serves in Escondido is naturally the same as you will find if you travel to Calabria. Romantic atmosphere, family that serves you in the dining room and modest prices. Thank you Joe and Angelina!

I’d happily recommend them to friends. I felt comfortable and valued.

My wife & I both had the “Veal Scaloppini”. It came with vegetables (whole green beans & sliced carrots) and pasta noodles with marinara sauce. The food was delicious and cooked perfect. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, we rated the food a 10. The service was a bit off and slow. They were dressed very professional. There were a lot of bus (cleaning) staff; they appeared to be young high school students. They appeared to be very well trained and followed their instructions very well. Example, they moved and revolved around the room constantly and were very attentive. Regarding the serving staff, it appeared to us that they were either short staffed, or were missing an actual server. Getting our sodas, refills, the taking of our orders, and the getting of our salads & main course entrees was slow. That may have been that they were busier than they were expecting or staffed for, or as I previously mentioned, they might have been short in servers. Overall, the service was slow; they were very friendly & professional. The individual who served our entrée was not our server, but she did apologize for the delay. The portions were right on, and like I previously mentioned, the food was delicious! The Veal Scaloppini was up there as some of the best I have ever had. Linda had the Veal too, and she agreed with me. The restaurant’s décor & atmosphere was very nice and comfortable. Pricing was on the higher side, but considering the quality if the food, the pricing was very fair in our opinion. The Restaurant definitely gets our recommendation. Having been in the restaurant business, and understanding the problems that can occur with the staffing and/or in a kitchen, I understand the challenges, and when we go out for dinner, we are prepared for, and understand the delays, and in this case the food and the atmosphere of the restaurant very much made up for the delays & slowness. “Joe's Italian Cuisine Restaurant” gets our endorsement and recommendation, and more importantly, we will be going back.

I've been here a few times and every time I love the food. The Carbonara, Chicken Cacciatore, and Ravioli are amazing! The stuffed mushrooms make for a superb appetizer too! Everything tastes fresh!

I am so in love with this restaurant. The owner and the waiters are so kind, the food was DELICIOUS. I will definitely be coming here again. Thank you

An Escondido gem. Old school Italian dishes and decor. Delicious, carefully prepared food. Perfect for couples or group of friends. Warm, comfortable atmosphere. Not for those in a hurry.

This place has it all -- excellent ambiance, great service, and the best Italian cuisine this side of Italy. Have been here many times during our stay in Escondido, and have enjoyed every visit. Joshua is an amazing soul, a great server. We have enjoyed the Chicken Marsala, Lasagna, Clam Linguini, Cannelloni, Antipasto Misto. The food takes a while to arrive, because it's prepared fresh when you order it; but it's worth the wait!! The house Chianti is perfect, just as you would expect from a true Italian restaurant. Save room for the Cannoli -- and don't try sharing, because you'll want it all to yourself!

“Heard it was good and it lived up to its reputation” Wow!!! I have always heard that this place was great but had never had the opportunity to go to one as there are none here in Oklahoma. But on our trip to San Diego, we saw this place and made it a point to stop and see if all this was hype or the real deal, Turns out that this...

Don't go if you are in a rush. The food is prepared fresh. Joe is the chef. I've had multiple meals and all were great. Chicken Parmigiano is cooked perfect. Their red sauce for pasta is wonderful.

This place has wonderful food. the owner is nice and kind. does a great job of making you feel right at home. this was my first time in and i ordered the lasagna. It was very big with good sauce.

First time there and I’m 100% Italian. My test is veal parm if they have it. As good as Original Joes shops in Bay Area. Been frequenting them since early 1960’s!. This was a pleasant surprise. It must be good because I didn’t see anyone else in there who was Italian!

Amazing place with great food, Italian dishes and setting. Small but has such an inviting feel. High class dining at an inexpensive price. The service far exceeds my expectations. I would highly recommend this place to anyone. It was quite a food adventure.

This is a such an authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of Escondido. Joe not only owns it, but you can catch him in the kitchen too. We make it a priority to come here when vacationing to Escondido/San Diego. They don't take reservations, but trust me it's worth the wait.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Joe's. Love the old fashioned atmosphere that feels like you're in a 1940's Italian restaurant to the friendly, personal service to the outstanding food. So delicious. Everything Alfredo is delicious. I've tried several specials and less fattening entrees (no cream sauce, small serving of pasta with red sauce on the side)--ALL delicious. We love their stuffed mushrooms and the cannoli for dessert. Service does usually take longer than most restaurants these days. Maybe because they make everything to order? I don't know. It makes for a whole, relaxing experience though, and taking some time to eat an Italian meal is certainly not a bad thing. I just go in knowing I'm going to savor the full experience. There's not a lot of restaurants you can say that about anymore. Having said that, on my last visit life demanded something of a rush. When we went in and told our server that we were unfortunately in something of a hurry, they did a great job of moving things along faster than usual. I don't recommend going there when time is a factor, but I did appreciate how well they accommodated us. There's also a coupon regularly in the local book which comes in handy. You really should try Joe's. They're a real gem.

Exceptional service, Exceptional food. Exceptional ambience, Exceptional place to eat and most of all, won't hurt your wallet! Great place to dine in! Certainly my new favorite Italian restaurant from now on 😋

The food is amazing ! You do not have to go to little Italy this place checks all the boxes for me in escondido!! I was in restaurant management, I am Italian and this place is definitely 5 out of 5! The pasta fagoli and Romano cream sauce heaven!!!! I would be passionate to work here. The food speaks for itself. The atmosphere is adorable, I had a calming feeling the second I walked in. Love it here !!!!!!

Got takeout from here while staying in Escondido. The food was very good with generous portions. The order was large, and the woman taking the order from the phone was very thorough to make sure everything was right. Very happy and would definitely go back if ever back in town.

This was our first time here. The area is small. This was a very good place to eat. Food was good, service was good, attentive and prompt. Our server, Lindsay, was great. We had lasagne, clam linguini with white sauce, stuffed mushrooms. The meals came with soup or salad and bread. The salad was fresh and the Italian dressing was not a packaged dressing. I believe it was freshly made. You can choose between Italian and blue cheese for salad dressing. They have a good selection of wine if you choose to have it with your meal too. My husband has decided to eat his way through the menu so it may mean numerous return trips.

What amazing food! I had the delicious lasagna and my wife enjoyed the chicken picata and shared the best cannoli!! Best little part of the dinner was we were blessed by a gentleman that was sitting next to us who paid for our meal when he left and surprised us! Will pay it forward some evening and do the same to some young couple!♥️♥️

This place is a true landmark Italian joint in the same location for almost 40 years. Best garlic bread & stuffed mushrooms EVER! Tiramisù to DIE FOR! Order whatever you want because it's all wonderful. Each dish is prepared to order but you won't mind waiting because it's such a cozy awesome place to kick back & enjoy.

Omg this place was amazing!! The aesthetic of the atmosphere was enough for me to rate the restaurant 5 stars. Italian soda and bruschetta was delicious. And the tortellini was perfect. Service was on point and very accommodating. I went with my grandparents, and they ALWAYS have something to complain about when at a restaurant. BUT they had no complaints here. Now that's saying something!!! Perfect place for an intimate date or a nice italian dinner with you family.

My husband and I went to dinner here and must say the food was fantastic!!! Amazing flavor in the gravy! (red sauce) Service was also exceptional. Yes we waited for our food but it gave us a chance to relax and enjoy the ambiance. I highly recommend this restaurant. A true gem in downtown Escondido. A++

Always such a great experience dining here. Love the service and the staff is all family and are all so pleasant every visit. The food is amazing!!! Don’t forget to save room for an expresso and something from the dessert menu.

9.17.2022, Last night, we went to Joe’s Italian Restaurant, 403 West Grand Avenue, Escondido, Ca. Up until now we haven’t been able to find a good Italian restaurant in Escondido. Inside Joe’s Italian Restaurant the ambience has a cool old fashioned Italian restaurant vibe with wall decorations, booths and tables with Italian music playing softly in the background. The aroma of Italian food is in the air. I ordered Chicken Cacciatore which came with soup or salad. I ordered the soup. My spouse ordered Shrimp Primavera and soup. The restaurant provides a free small loaf of Italian bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar on request. The Chicken Cacciatore was the best Italian dish I have ever tasted. It had fresh sauteed mushrooms, carrots and bell peppers. The chicken was cooked to perfection. Every bite melted in my mouth. lol My spouse dish Shrimp Primavera was tasted great. The soup was a beef flavored with small shell noodles. The soup was fantastic if you enjoy beef flavored soup. Con: The waiting staff seemed disorganized which caused prolonged waiting times. Parking: There is plenty of free parking on West Grand near the Joe’s Restaurant. I highly Joes’ Italian Restaurant to anyone who’s looking for gourmet Italian Restaurant at a reasonable price of an average $20. We waited for 5 minutes before being seated. We make a reservation for this restaurant. I highly recommend this small restaurant to anyone looking for Italian food. I would recommend contacting this restaurant in advance if you have more than 4 people in your group.

Staff was excellent and the food was made to order and piping hot when it got to the table. The chicken dish I had was probably the best chicken I have ever had at a restaurant. The restaurant isn't huge so you might need to wait for a little bit but it is most definitely worth the wait. I won't be going to any other Italian restaurant for now on.

Very good sauces. The lasagna and chicken carbonara were excellent. Mushroom appetizer excellent. No homemade pasta dishes which I always look for. Best tiramisu I have ever had - very creamy with great chucks and a thin light cake. Parking ok, around corner to east from Joe's is bank parking.

Fun and funky atmosphere, excellent wine list, service is good, and food is always top notch. Since I moved away and only come here for visits, I always have to make sure I have dinner at Joe's Italian Cuisine at least once. Excellent pasta and the red sauce is to die for.

How else can one describe Joe's other than you're transported to Italy during your visit! Everything from the cuisine, decor and staff are amazing. So much attention and love goes into each meal that's served and the portions are more than abundant. I highly recommend Joe's to anyone seeking authentic Italian food and an overall delightful experience.

Been going to Joe’s for 40+ years. The difference now vs then is the quality, selection, and amore with every meal. It just keeps getting better and better. Joe really loves his restaurant. As we all do, particularly me. Grazi Giuseppe! A very fine establishment in all respects.

We went here for my mother-in-laws birthday and had a great time! Service was great and food was fantastic. Will be back!

This is the best little Italian restaurant you've never tried. Joe's selection of food is filled with delicious meals touching on all points of Italian fair. All are made to order and arrive at your table hot and fantastic! Same room for a home-made tiramisu!

My wife and I have been enjoying Joes for several years. Quaint Italian atmosphere and the food is excellent. If you love Italian antipasto salad then you have to share this large salad that has real Italian cheeses, meats and olives with Joes special addictive dressing. Going there today on my birthday. Can’t wait!

***---THIS IS THEE BEST Italian meal you'll ever eat!!! ---*** The mushroom appetizer in a lemon sauce , OMG that's the first just the starter!!! Bruschetta triple wow!!!! Then get to dinner, all I can say is why the hell isn't the line across the entire county? It's not cheap but you'll not get a more authentic Italian meal! Joe you are amazing!!!!

I personally think this food was immaculate! I ordered the Meat Ravioli Parmigiana. Wow, was it so good! 🤗 My partner ordered the Chicken Parmigiano, which she enjoyed. She was just bummed because the plate came with 5 penne pasta. (4 out of 5). I tasted it, too, and it was delicious. Definitely will be back when I visit again! Oh yeah, the bean soup also hit the spot.

a Hidden Gem in the heart of Escondido. I have lived here for years and had not been, i really missed out on years of great food. The stuffed mushrooms are a must try. The waitress was funny and very helpful in choosing food my only complaint is they charge for a split plate we only split so we could have an appetizer, a desert and a bottle of wine. Although 3.00 is not a ton the meals are at a price that 3 additional dollars is not necessary. Over all a must try and there are some hidden fun, messages from customers are in the drawers.

My family and I stopped for dinner on our vacation and we were absolutly amazed by Joe's. The atmosphere was very inviting and intimate. The waitress was fantastic! Very attentive and informative of the specials and the restaurants history. Each dish is made to order and the food nothing short of exemplary. By far the best Italian food we have ever eaten! No comparison. Joe came out to meet us, a real treat to meet the owner and chef. You rarely will find experiences like this. A real gem. Thank you so very much!

This was my first time coming to this place, and it was amazing. The waitress was so polite and enthusiastic about the dishes, and the atmosphere was relaxing to an immense degree. The food itself is easily some of the best you can get in Escondido, with a perfect portion size and extremely reasonable prices. If you're looking for a nice place to have a meal, I can honestly recommend giving this one a shot.

We were visiting my son were from Cicero, upstate New York everything was fabulous good Italian dinner

What can I saw but that everything we tried was exceptional. The interior is busy, but we'll themed, the food was perfect, service was very kind. I had the gnocchi with romano sauce, just the best, or darn close. My husband enjoyed their penne special, also very happy with his dish. Great wine selection. The Garlic bread is amazing.

We came at 6:30 on a Friday without reservations. They had a small table in a cozy tasting room for us to wait for a table. The decor is interesting, so the short wait went quickly. The food is excellent, the staff are attentive, and the place is filled with Italian memorabilia. This is one of our favorite Italian restaurants anywhere.

Great place. Cozy atmosphere. Price was great. Food was better than most Italian around since I’ve lived out here. Waitress Susie we had was very pleasant. Highly recommend this Italian joint.

I was born and raised in Italy 🇮🇹 and I can honestly say this is the most authentic and genuine Italian restaurant I've ever found in America, and I've been leaving in the US for over 20 years trying all the best Italian restaurants in the Bay area, in Washington state, in Florida and now in the San Diego area. It really makes me feel like I'm back in Italy. This place is a hidden treasure! Take advantage of this opportunity to discover true Italian food.

Nothing but good things to say about Joe's. Great little corner establishment with incredible customer service. The food is awesome. I had the veal piccata and the sauce was omg! We come here often and I think it's one of the best small businesses in escondido. Thank you joe's, and Cheers!

I've been wanting to come here for quite some time. My girlfriend took me here, and they did not let us down. The antipasto was like my grandma, who couldn't speak a word of English. She was born in Naples, Italy. I had their eggplant, and it was very simple and perfect, just as it should be. The tiramisu was homemade to perfection, light, and airy. I will be returning here.

Such a great experience! The food was delicious and our server Melanie was so sweet and gave great service.

Authentic Italian cooking, classic pasta menu with several house specialties, a welcoming cozy atmosphere, polite experienced servers, all at a reasonable price.

Ordered caneloni, penne alfredo, cheese raviolo and chickes with lemon and capers. All was delicious. Recommend making reservations or getting there before rush hour. Staff was friendly. Food was good. Has a kid menu with kid adjusted prices, which was a plus

I love coming to this place. The atmosphere is great for date night and the customer service is top notch. The walls are covered with art and things to hold your attention. You will notice new stuff every visit, even if you sit in the same booth. The lighting is very dim, though there is optional outside seating. I would recommend the wine flight, new wines to taste every week. The eggplant parmigiana here is the best I have ever had.

After reading the reviews wWe had been wanting to try this place for a long time. Last Friday, after Cruisin Grand we decided to give it a try and I have to say, the reviews were right. At first, the restaurant looks like a whole in the wall, you would easily miss it between Bellamy and the flower shop but walking in is like walking in an authentic family restaurant in Italy (Joe, the owner and chef is a real Italian from Calabria). Quirky decor, discreete European music, a mix of Opera, Italian and French songs quiet enough that you can have a conversation and still enjoy the music, and the food, the best Italian food we've had in a long time, we finished dinner withthe best tiramisu. We will definitely be back

This is such a fun Italian restaurant!! It has a cool, kitschy atmosphere. It is family operated and I adore the spaghetti with mushroom marinara with meatballs. My family has gone there for years!

Every time we've been there it's been great. The family is fantastic Joe comes and greets you. Eggplant parmesan is my favorite. It almost reminds me of a fluffy chili relleno but done with eggplant in it. Wonderful. Only thing I wish they would change is the bread that they come and give you at the beginning with your salad. Other than that. It's great. Attentiveness on spot. Their wine is good. I love mixing Italian and their blue cheese together for the salad. There are a few tables outside inside and a place for a bigger group. Enjoy

If you are near Escondido, make this one of your stops! It is in downtown and worth the stop! There are a lot of good Italian places, but this place is great! The decor is so fun, where every space is covered and little lights everywhere. I ordered the spaghetti with bolognese sauce, my husband ordered lasagna, and my two daughters shared penne with marinara sauce. We each had a fresh salad with Italian dressing. Every single bite was delicious. My husband said that he was not missing anything in his meal, saying that all the flavors were there in the meal and it was perfect. It seemed like the cook was the owner and he came out to hand deliver our meal to us. He was really kind to is and our two girls (4 years old and 5 years old), smiling when he gave us our meals. He also came out after our meal was over to give our girls some lady finger cookies , just because he thought they’d enjoy them. How Kind! The Italian dressing on the salad was delicious The bread that came to the table was delicious and fresh. The bread that came with our meal was garlic bread and it was fresh, but the garlic was not chopped garlic, but garlic powder and Parmesan cheese, still very good though on the fresh bread. We are so glad we stopped in to eat at this delicious restaurant!

Very old school Italian restaurant. Always good food and great service. Wish we lived closer. Escondido to Carlsbad is a long drive after dinner.

A friend and I came to Joe’s on a Wednesday evening and we mostly had the place to ourselves. The entire dining experience was excellent, every dish we had was amazing. The highlights of the meal were the bruschetta, the pasta (of course), and the cheesecake for dessert. Joe’s certainly one of those places where you don’t want to rush your experience, just sit back and enjoy!

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!

So impressed with this fantastic restaurant. A hidden gem in Escondido. Delicious food.

Family and the kids loved loved it. The passion for customer service is incredible. This is one of my favorite Italian meals, you feel part of the family. Reasonably priced and great wine. 5 stars

My partner and I so loved our experience at Joe's. It felt like a step back in time. There is a ton of atmosphere with interesting objects on the walls and ceilings and low lighting. The waitress are super casual and friendly. We saw Joe come out of the kitchen to joke and connect with long-time customers. They still include bread and salad with many meals plus veggies and pasta, all served at a relaxed pace - we never felt rushed. For what we received, the prices were amazingly reasonable. We both enjoyed our food - it seemed pretty healthy (okay, I may have preferred a little less salt, but still delicious.) This was a memorable and positive visit for us both. Highly recommend!

We went here for our anniversary on New Year’s Eve and it was spectacular! The restaurant is very intimate with interestingly eclectic decor and low lighting. The service was nothing short of top notch and the food paired with just their house wine was the best Italian food I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. We enjoyed ourselves and had a great time. Highly recommend to anyone craving authentic and delicious Italian cuisine.

Wow!! What a gem! The food was FANTASTIC and the staff were so friendly. I can’t believe we’d never been here but will definitely be back!

Joe's is great! It is a small family-run restaurant serving excellent food and a fun ambience. I highly recommend going!

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!

The food is made to order so it's always fresh, and I love the ambiance of the place. It's feels like your in a little café in Italy and you get to listen to music while your eat. We go here often.

Carlos Hernandez

So impressed with this fantastic restaurant. A hidden gem in Escondido. Delicious food.

Allisen Fernandez

The food is made to order so it's always fresh, and I love the ambiance of the place. It's feels like your in a little café in Italy and you get to listen to music while your eat. We go here often.

Carmen Nucci

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!

Heather Lopez

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!

Great little local Italian place located in Escondido. The bruschetta bread is great and a way bigger portion than I thought. Their Shrimp Primavera is delicious and big enough for 2 to share. Portions are big and worth the price. If in the area and you're looking for Italian then I highly recommend skipping Olive garden and coming here. Very intimate settings and the decorations are adorable.

Old school Italian. Classic dishes. We had the pomodoro and veal marsala. Both were very good. The ceaser salad was also good. The soup, pasta fagioli, was unremarkable. They need to up their bread game. The interior is quite charming. They don't take reservations, so expect to wait.

Got spaghetti with Bologonese. Not the best I’ve had, but not bad. Decently priced. Good enough for a quick to go order. I’d come back👌

I must say I really enjoyed my visit at Joey's Italian cuisine, their wine list was to die for and they're bruschetta was the best one I had so far. Only issue is: it is very tight. When you go in, the tables are pretty close together, so are the chair as and if you are close to phobic I would absolutely not recommend this place. But if you want good food a really good experience of Italian food, authentic this is the place for you. I must say their waiters are absolutely amazing friendly and super helpful.

Joe McGowan

Old school Italian. Classic dishes. We had the pomodoro and veal marsala. Both were very good. The ceaser salad was also good. The soup, pasta fagioli, was unremarkable. They need to up their bread game. The interior is quite charming. They don't take reservations, so expect to wait.

Jessica Wu

Great little local Italian place located in Escondido. The bruschetta bread is great and a way bigger portion than I thought. Their Shrimp Primavera is delicious and big enough for 2 to share. Portions are big and worth the price. If in the area and you're looking for Italian then I highly recommend skipping Olive garden and coming here. Very intimate settings and the decorations are adorable.

Sellers

Got spaghetti with Bologonese. Not the best I’ve had, but not bad. Decently priced. Good enough for a quick to go order. I’d come back👌

Food was delicious. My first time here. I’ve lived in Escondido all my life and never been here.. Quirky cluttery decor perfect for an Italian restaurant. 2018 they accept entertainment book coupon. The bread is not so great and the servers were very efficient ...in fact it was a little too efficient , they kept coming to the table to remove items quicker than desired. The crush Italian hot pepper came in little packets seemed a little too casual for me but that’s just a small detail. I will be back

This place is soaked in OG, old school Italian family dining feel. Fun artifacts, photos, collectibles, and momentos cover the walls and ceilings; Bocelli singing in the background; super friendly staff. And the food is absolutely delicious.

Quirky old school decor Italian...my kind of place. The locals are lucky to have them. Food pretty good, reasonably priced. The salad that was served with entrée was huge! We're out of towers and will stop here again when passing through next time.

Dinner was fine. It wasn't a spectacular Italian dinner but it was good. I feel like the menu prices were reasonable and the service staff was excellent. Place was a little small, and dark, but kind of cozy as well. I would go back again if I were in the area.

Always enjoy dinner here because of the service and atmosphere. The dishes are prepared upon ordering, which is a great thing, but sometimes they arrive cold. All of the bolognese dishes are delicious. The pesto is very basic. The anchovy salad is quite amazing.

The marinara sauce was very tasty. The pasta dish came with good bread and decent salad. Husband really liked his chicken parmesan. Looking forward to trying the pesto sauce next time!

Our server was great and very attentive and the atmosphere is really cozy. I ordered the veal piccata, which was good, except for the fairly small portion of pasta. I had also asked for it to be al dente, but it came out so soft that it was crumbling on itself. The meal was overall good, with the mushroom caps appetizer being a standout.

Tyler Hidalgo

Our server was great and very attentive and the atmosphere is really cozy. I ordered the veal piccata, which was good, except for the fairly small portion of pasta. I had also asked for it to be al dente, but it came out so soft that it was crumbling on itself. The meal was overall good, with the mushroom caps appetizer being a standout.

Decent Italian food, but don't come in a group of more than 4 because they have to rearrange tables to accommodate a large group, and the place is small and crowded.

Cozy and romantic atmosphere. Very good waitress. Food was good. I asked to substitute marinara for alfredo sauce. I found it offensive the person in charge wanted to charge $3 for that. For that reason, I will not go back. Every Italian restaurant I have been to, will substitute the sauce. As you can see in the picture, there was very little pasta.

Bad things. The food was not that great. My lasagna was ok, just ok. A small portion sort of floating in a little boat with sauce. My friend had chicken valdostana and it was a complete mess visually but tasted ok. But honestly, sending out that dish, looking as it did, was a big misstep. (see the photos) Clean up. The, uh, eclectic interior is covered in dust and the glass on the lights and the walls is filthy. Good things. It's awesome that this is a genuine family place and that they actually work there. Cheers for that. The location is convenient and the interior is pleasant in a weirdly cool way. Summary. I don't know that I'll go back I was underwhelmed with the food. Enjoyed the nice serviced but was troubled by the dusty stuff all over the place. The bottom line here is, is there better Italian food in Escondido for the same or a lower price and I think, sadly, the answer is yes. I hope this was a one-time bad experience and I wish Joe's, because it is a true local, family establishment, the best.

While the restaurant boasts a beautiful ambiance and commendable service, the overall dining experience fell short of expectations. I ordered the fettuccine Alfredo, which, while slightly better than a store-bought microwaved version, lacked the depth of flavor one would hope for in a freshly prepared dish. My father opted for the chicken Parmesan, which he thoroughly enjoyed, suggesting that some menu items may be more successful than others. We also ordered a shrimp scampi to go for my mother. For three meals, our total came to $100, with a final bill of $120 after tipping—placing it slightly above the cost of a comparable meal at Olive Garden. Given the price point, I expected a more memorable culinary experience. While the atmosphere and service were strong points, the food itself did not stand out as anything particularly special.

Today on April 15th, I ordered same food as in March 12nd - my first time- I do not know what is going on but it is definitely different. The promise was handmade pasta for $20 which was fine but today was a disappointment. I couldn’t even eat it. I am out of words.

Dillon Stauffer

While the restaurant boasts a beautiful ambiance and commendable service, the overall dining experience fell short of expectations. I ordered the fettuccine Alfredo, which, while slightly better than a store-bought microwaved version, lacked the depth of flavor one would hope for in a freshly prepared dish. My father opted for the chicken Parmesan, which he thoroughly enjoyed, suggesting that some menu items may be more successful than others. We also ordered a shrimp scampi to go for my mother. For three meals, our total came to $100, with a final bill of $120 after tipping—placing it slightly above the cost of a comparable meal at Olive Garden. Given the price point, I expected a more memorable culinary experience. While the atmosphere and service were strong points, the food itself did not stand out as anything particularly special.

The food here is good. It's what you would expect from a moderatly priced italian restaurant. Unfortunately that's all this place has going for it in my opinion. There's so much "italian decor" that you feel claustrophobic sitting at your table. The staff was alright though I got a negative tone and a little glare when I ordered wine. I'm guessing that server wasn't alcohol friendly. To top it off, the food was decent but it took TWO AND A HALF HOURS to receive our meal in full. I won't be returning.

Loved the atmosphere. The food was pretty bad. Visibly canned or frozen vegetables, the sauce was kinda like chef boy-r-dee - just terrible and tasteless. I desperately wanted to like this but won't be going back.

We ordered bruschetta and stuffed mushrooms for appetizers. I wish they had said it’s their take on bruschetta. It came on a roll from staters brother (not fracacia bread as traditional) also was heated, I’ve never seen warm bruschetta with melted cheese and warm tomato. The stuffed mushroom were ok, the sauce on it tasted like straight butter. My gf ordered fettuccine Alfredo, it was horrible, it tasted like straight butter and we realized the sauce on the mushroom was their idea of Alfredo sauce. We sent it back and the older lady who was our server gave us glaring looks. She said “you mustn’t like white sauce.” I wanted to say this was not white sauce, a 5 yr old knows what Alfredo sauce tastes like. On the brighter side the chicken parm was good, 7 out of 10 and my gf exchanged Alfredo for eggplant parm 6 out of 10

It was a busy night, but we had to ask them to rush our food after almost an HOUR! The pasta dishes both came out soupy and tasteless but we weren't about to send it back after an hour! The chicken on my pasta was undercooked. It's one thing to wait a long time if the food is good, but we won't be returning here.

I am so disappointed in my experience at Joe’s in Escondido. It is not inexpensive....but, the quality of the food is very bad. Pasta was over cooked and mushy. The chicken had a bizarre texture and was tasteless as if it had been boiled. The soup and salad portions were tiny. This restaurant really needs a new chef. I wish I would have just gone to Olive Garden.

Worst service in Escondido. Epitome of racism. Discrimination due to being a white family…only though my wife is half blank and a quarter Native American. Most prejudice Hispanic waitress ever. Owners should be ashamed. We got up and left.

We used to love this place when we lived here, but decided to make the drive and come here for dinner. I remember eating a salad with salami on it. I asked if the side salad had it that already came with my dinner and she said no, I asked to pay extra for salami and she walked back from speaking with Joe the owner who told her no. She then told me no and walked back to the kitchen and said why do I get all the difficult customers loudly? She also was talking about how she was more awnry than usually. I could hear her and probably everyone else in the restaurant. Very loud mouthy. She rarely came to our table our water glasses were empty during our entire meal along with my hot tea. I told the owners daughter who was a server there, and she just said ask for my section next time. Didn’t remove anything from our check. Do you think I’ll ever be back? No.