The food is amazing here. It has classic diner foods with top quality ingredients. I got the eggs benedict, of course. Definitely a place to try!

Amazing! I just left and needed to write a review. Try the Grandma's spicy margarita!!! Two and I'm pretty buzzed. The food was amazing and our server Denise was so nice and funny. Made our experience worth while and we will definitely be back to try other foods.

+2

Nice decoration + The food was delicious! The staff were friendly and our server was a very sweet lady. The menu was on the table, always accessible.

First time at Joe's Cafe and we were not disappointed. We had a delicious breakfast and coffee. They have a variety of breakfast options available to choose from which made it hard to choose. Wish we had tried their homemade pie but it just means I have to go back to this landmark spot.

+4

The rumors about the healthy pours of the cocktails are true :)

Great diner! Food was tasty and the waitress was the sweetest! The steak and eggs were delicious!

I called to send one of their customers a piece of cheesecake for tgror birthday. Person who answered phone were so amazing. They delivered it to them. It made their day. Excellent customer service. Thanks so much

Joes is always good. Good food, good service, and great location at the heart of SB on lower state. Its our go to for family breakfast outings. Very welcoming, cozy, and subtle with a locals hometown feel. A true staple of Santa Barbara.

Joe's is known for their drinks, we tried their food for the first time and everything was really good. My husband had the lasagna and he enjoyed it very much. I had the BBQ pulled pork sandwich and it was delicious, bread was super soft. Definitely recommend eating here.

Pleasant surprise to find a local dining room with tourist hoards outside looking for eats..ordered meatloaf plate yum! zin and the Germans next to me at the bar were oogling it, perfect solo but tables full of groups. I am devoted to this Joe's

+1

During our trolly city tour, our guide Rusty recommended Joe's Cafe. We are SO glad we went by for a late lunch and happy hour. Joe's has been around for nearly 100 years. The burgers and fries were delicious! The happy hour is outstanding and you even receive a glass of extra on the side. We all tried the lemon drop martini and loved it! Very strong! They live up to the "stiffest drinks" claim. ;-) We also adored the cute atmosphere. What a fun local spot!

Wonderful Waffles and chicken breakfast with scrambled eggs. Outstanding diner coffee with real dairy cream. I’ve never had chicken and waffles before but have always wanted to have it. When in Santa Barbara I shall return. Highly recommended, I’ll see you there.

The taste of coffee is exquisite. I would have stayed at that table drinking more.., The Cuban sandwich and its garnish that you can choose between salad and French fries. I chose the French fries because I was touring and I was expecting a walk to enjoy this beautiful city trapped between a mountain valley and the splendid and wonderful Pacific Ocean.

Iconic Santa Barbara landmark offers a nice variety of menu items. Good happy hour deals in a casual relaxed atmosphere. Our server was professional, efficient and super friendly. Will be back next time I'm in town!

This is a really nice restaurant with charming decor and ambiance from years gone by and is very well maintained. I went there for lunch on a Friday and I had the Omaha open face tri-tip sandwich and shrimp cocktail. Both were very tasty. The staff were very friendly and attentive. Our glasses were kept full and plates cleared promptly when finished. I hope to eat here again soon.

A great spot for breakfast. After a morning walk to the Santa Barbara Mission. We arrived a few minutes before 11:30 and they still provided us with a wonderful breakfast. The manager was so courteous. As well as the waiter always checking on us as we sat outside. Eggs were perfect. I even ordered a Cape cod which was mostly vodka. 🍹 Thank you. It was a wonderful way to start our Saturday afternoon.

Highly recommend to try the grits instead of the potatoes. The coffee is very strong, so get a Martini instead. Beautiful outdoor seating. Prices at considered inexpensive for Santa Barbara especially downtown. Each guest in my party left nothing on the plate. The meal was quite enjoyable.

+4

This restaurant is a welcome and delightful find. We end up eating here for multiple meals. Breakfast has both savory and sweet options with caffeine that make you sit up and sing. Dark rich coffee with a lack of acrid taste. Dinner has a wide range of options for everyone with local favorites and classic diner food. Excellent drinks and service. Wonderful crab cakes! Spinach salad is perfect! Family and ada friendly. Can be loud and crowded. Patio seating available. Easy street parking with a public parking less than a block away.

+4

Ate here 2x within a week. Might wait extra for the food. Have yet to be disappointed. Suggestions. Don't order what you are familiar to from other places. The menu has a great selection of many things....

+6

Absolutely best experience! Food was delicious, service was fast and pleasant and they provide plenty of options with a full bar to top it off! My partner and I enjoyed the spicy chicken sandwich and grilled chicken with tomato and mozzarella. Definitely will be returning and referring others!

Wow... What amazing service. The waiters and waitresses we're right where they needed to be at a moment's notice. The food was great and reasonably priced. Definitely recommend the chili. It tastes home made and has shredded cheese, onions and sour cream. There are a lot of fine establishments around the area, but I definitely recommend this spot.

+1

I loved it here!. The food and the service!. Our server was the sweetest, I wish I remembered her name. She made our whole experience the best! We sat in the left corner right by the jukebox and it was a vibe. Loved all the memorabilia on the walls too, makes it a fun lil place to come and eat.

Very good food and great customer service, they have an outside dining area by the street perfect to catch all the scenery, the City closed part of the street and now is better then before. Parking is not to far and only $2.5 per hour. The interior decor is pretty cool, the bar area is very classy. We will definitely come back for more.

Fantastic breakfast in a fantastic location. Enjoy comfort food prepared in the old fashioned way under the high ceilings of this hundred year old building. The prices are excellent, as well, given the quality and high end location. Don't waste your morning on a Starbucks doughnut. Come to Joe's instead.

The place has ample seating and lay out is not crowded. Food is flavorful and portions are big enough.Staff are also friendly.

+2

Stopped by this legendary SB institution for lunch and got the Prime Rib Sandwich lo and behold it had a full sized dinner slice of meat! Our server Ruthie was fantastic and made sure our group had everything we needed! The food was so good we came back the following day to try more items.

Fantastic food, their potato salad in particular was amazing, but what made this visit special was the service. Our waitress was telling us about her family history in Bradford and she was just super professional, welcoming and pleasant. Thank you.

Great spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks. Joe's is an iconic restaurant and bar that has been serving Santa Barbara since 1928. Fast service, friendly staff, retro vibes, stiff drinks and great food.

I’m really picky about my French dip sandwiches but this place has it down! DELICIOUS. I tried the cheesecake this time too and WOW. Blown away. I’ve been here twice and brought my husband back with me because I knew he’d love it too. Definitely worth a trip when you’re in the area. Great customer service as well.

Old school Greatness! Although Joes has apparently been around for years, we just discovered it have been back twice in as many days. Dinner last night was spot on with excellent meals and killer martinis w/blue cheese olives. The French Dip Sammie was big and tender with generous portions of salad and fries. We were so happy we woke up this morning and decided to return to Joe’s for a late morning breakfast before walking on State Street. Give Joe’s a try and you won’t be sorry. Highly recommended

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

Walked by many restaurants in downtown Santa Barbara. This particular place caught our attention because of the ambiance. We ordered the roasted turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and veggies. Very flavorful , mashed potatoes you can tell are home made and not from the box. I had the wild caught salmon with the same side items and let me tell you. Both of these dishes were delicious!! I highly recommend this spot when visiting SB!!! Customer service was friendly and attentive. Atmosphere was laid back. If you’re not hungry it’s also a good spot for a drink and hangout 👍

We were recommend Joe's for breakfast by a bartender and we're glad we followed up on it. It's got a Ruby's old style about it but an an adult version, way way better in all respects. Great food and super nice service, a great atmosphere with tributes to famous clientele all around. Evenings probably have a good buzz, you can feel it.

Large open space with tons of character. It was fun and loud. The food was fresh and made to order. I wholly recommend this place, no negatives.

+2

The place was really clean and nicely decorated. It is pretty big. The menu is a bit overwhelming with many choices. The food was incredibly delicious. They do have a restroom. All the staff was nice. Patient and attentive. Very welcoming. Perfect location down State Street. Go to Joe's Cafe!

+6

Classic Santa Barbara. Menu has everything you could ever want. Breakfast is delicious. Service is friendly and fantastic (shout-out to Denise - she is fabulous). Freshly squeezed orange juice is super tasty. Coffee is perfectly strong. As are the cocktails. Love the old school decor and the lighting makes the restaurant feel so warm and welcoming. Make sure you stop in if you’re just visiting SB!

Great atmosphere and good food. Not many people when I visited but still waited a bit for service.

American style breakfast and lunch spot specializing in omelettes, scrambles, and other Americanized breakfast options you probably grew up eating. The portion sizes are generous and the prices are reasonable as well. They also have a full sized bar with plenty of drink offerings. The service and location is great. Everyone was super friendly and we had our food within minutes of sitting down. There is indoor and outdoor seating which is nice considering it is located right on State Street! The tables were clean and everything looked great. The food here was also really good. The food here is basically like any big American style breakfast cafe and you won’t be disappointed. We were happy and actually just ordered one plate to share, which left us full!

Andréa Araujo

My husband and I stopped by the restaurant for lunch and were pleasantly surprised by their sandwiches and service. We shared the Omaha trip-trip sandwich, which came with fries and a green salad. It was delicious, and the price was reasonable. Our server, Jenny, was outstanding, and we definitely plan to come back.

Aygul Shagabutdinova

Joe’s Café in Santa Barbara was such a lovely spot to stop after a long drive. The food was really good, fresh, comforting and satisfying, the service was warm and friendly. The café is cozy and inviting, the perfect place to relax and unwind. We really loved it and felt completely refreshed after our stop.

Pat Hubbell

We were visiting family in Santa Barbara and Joe's was recommended to us. Wow! We ended up eating breakfast here TWICE. The place has an amazing speakeasy type vibe. Our server, Mayerling, was so knowledgeable and helpful with the menu. Food was excellent. Can't wait to go back and try the dinner menu.

R Butler

I have been twice in my 2 month residency in Santa Barbara and both times the food delicious, staff warm and welcoming and the drinks boozy! The breakfast options were all on point. For lunch I had the lasagna which was very good anf filling (enough for two) and friend had the stuffed chicken special which was thoroughly enjoyed with leftovers to bring back. We both had the spicy mule which I didn't finish due to being the driver. Will definitely make this a destination stop for when friends come into town.

Carlos Vargas

Great place to eat. Very nice place and service. Daniel provide an incredible service, he was super friendly. The other guys that brought water were super friendly also. The food is incredible. I highly recommend this place.

+4

Mandy Cook

Stopped in TWICE during my recent trip to Santa Barbara. The clam chowder was wonderful but I wasn’t a fan of the bread and salsa. The espresso martinis were a little too good!! The server and bartender were wonderful. Loved the atmosphere. Will definitely come back if ever in the area again!!

Roz Avetti

Found this hidden gem before going back to reality. I called Joe’s Cafe and spoke with Erin the manager was able to make a reservation with no wait. Excellent service, food, and great atmosphere! The steak and eggs were delicious! A must try if visiting Santa Barbara.

M L-E

Great central location on State Street. Service is always personable and friendly, as wellas professional. Food is abundant and well prepared. Great Bloody Mary's and very generous portions. Outside table dinning is nice, plenty of room for 🐕. Thanks for the extra napkins, coasters and pens!

Анна Туккаева

Absolutely the best pasta I’ve ever had in my life! If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. It was my first time here, but it has instantly become my favorite restaurant. Huge thanks to the team for the amazing care and hard work — you’ve truly made my day!💕

Michael Livers (MLpapa)

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

+19

Amelia H

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

+1

Six Four Sixx

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

+5

Devin Diaz

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

+6

Miguel Grana

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

Andy Peck

What could be more representative of American cuisine than a diner named Joe's? How could we NOT eat here? Others must feel the same, as Joe's is close to celebrating its 100th birthday. I felt an urge to sing the national anthem. The food and service were great. Everything appeared to be clean and in good repair. My wife and I spent a night in Santa Barbara, to see the original Karpeles Manuscript Library. We ate at Joe's on our way to catch Amtrak to our home, near Seattle. The diner is located in downtown Santa Barbara, so you're unlikely to find near-by parking. This area is very pedestrian-friendly, but not so much for cars.

+4

C MO

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

+3

Sarah Haight

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

+4

Had to come to Joe's Cafe while here. Had a drink because they are legendarily large pours according to local lore. Umm. Can neither confirm nor deny that claim. Recommend you check it out and report…

Had to come to Joe's cafe while here. Had a drink because they are legendarily large pours according to local lore. Umm. Can neither confirm nor deny that claim. Recommend you check it out and repo…

like the degenerate i am, i always start at joe's to initiated my weekly bar crawl. I ordered a diet rum and coke, and the nice gentleman on the left made it in less than two shakes of a lamb tail.…

This has always been one of my favorite breakfast places. \nThe servers are all seasoned and really know how to make you feel at home and take care of you.\nThe menu has a really great variety. Eve…

Always good food and great service. This time we had the roasted chicken and fish and chips. Chicken was tender and flavorful. Fish and chips was not greasy at all.

Stopped in for lunch at Joe's. My server was very friendly and attentive. I sat out on the patio and watched people walking up and down State Street. I had a really good old fashion and a hearty sa…

ambiance was amazing! The Philly Cheese steak was awesome! Great martinis and just a great overall vibe. Took our kid there for parents weekend at UCSB and we had a perfect time!!!

Well we're back! Decided to take a drive just to get out of the house and away from the heat. Plan was to come again to Joe's cafe for breakfast then walk around town. \nServer is very friendly. Hu…

Well we're back! Decided to take a drive just to get out of the house and away from the heat. Plan was to come again to Joe's Cafe for breakfast then walk around town. \nServer is very friendly. Hu…

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

It's a 50's diner, from the decor, the uniforms, and the background music. The bacon is actually cooked TO ORDER (a rarity these days) and great (strong) coffee. Great complements to otherwise good…

We've been coming to Joe's for many years. Every time we visit Santa Barbara it is a must stop. Old school service and a fun place for all. Known for their stiff drinks! Extensive menu of comfort f…

We've been coming to Joe's for many years. Every time we visit Santa Barbara it is a must stop. Old school service and a fun place for all. Known for their stiff drinks! Extensive menu of comfort f…

We were looking for dinner within walking distance from our hotel. Found this place Joe's cafe on a search. Dinner was very good- BLT was better than I was expecting. Inside was very lively, fun an…

Had a fabulous meal sat outside. The waitress was amazing, I had Ribs so tender the meat fell off the bone. Hubby had steak, which he said was also really good. Sadly no room for desert.

Had a fabulous meal sat outside. The waitress was amazing, I had ribs so tender the meat fell off the bone. Hubby had steak, which he said was also really good. Sadly no room for desert.

Get the Chilaquiles. That is all you need to know the State Steer area is a fabulous walkable area. Lots of parking available around it.

Joe's is iconic. Great food, stiff drinks, friendly service. Its a tradition that can't be missed when you visit SB.

As Santa Barbra was too expensive to stay at we decided to still stop here to experience it. Whilst walking along we saw Joes cafe with its cute outdoor seating at the front so decided to give it a…

As Santa Barbra was too expensive to stay at we decided to still stop here to experience it. Whilst walking along we saw Joes cafe with its cute outdoor seating at the front so decided to give it a…

During our trolly city tour, our guide Rusty recommended Joe's cafe. We are SO glad we went by for a late lunch and happy hour. Joe's has been around for nearly 100 years. The burgers and fries wer…

This is a great casual restaurant on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara. The food is delicious and the service excellent. We shared a Reuben sandwich and a piece of blackberry pie.

Super service and delicious food. It's an old school eatery with vintage, original decor. Diner that opens early and closes late. Popular watering hole.

Apparently a great place to spend Thanksgiving! Service was fast and polite for the fact that it was so busy. Their drinks are STRONG as per their reputation. This place manages to balance the interesting line between family restaurant during the day and good starter bar for a night out on the town. Good menu with lots of options too.

I came in late on a Sunday night and ordered the Philly cheesesteak. It was one of the best cheesesteaks I’d ever had and almost left me licking the plate wanting more. They allow you to split the side so I had onion rings and French fries. What I also had liked was that they’d brought ranch without me having to ask too. Good place, recommend if you can’t decide on what to eat.

Came here at 11 on a Sunday morning and it was PACKED. We got a seat in 5 minutes for 4 people but we had to wait around 30 minutes for the food to be served. Food itself was good.

I must admit that we weren’t planning to eat here but we sort of forgot that most US restaurants close their kitchens before 9pm. Thankfully Joe’s was able to accommodate us just before the kitchen closed. Despite turning up so late, staff were really friendly and accommodating. The menu choice was huge and the food was very good. One of the mains wasn’t exactly as described, but no complaints given the effort they made to accommodate us. Joe’s is a Santa Barbara institution. I’m very pleased that we found them, albeit by accident!

Mike attended to us, he gave us excellent service, very professional and attentive. We ordered eggs benecdit and steak and eggs. both were good.

Joe's needs 4.5 stars! The food was good and fresh and the service was great! They are known for strong drinks and the Fabulosa Margarita was on point.

Friendly wait staff (grumpy host, but I'm chalking it up to sciatica), fun atmosphere. Margarita was delicious and stiff, as promised, and not too sweet. Burger, BLT, Mac n cheese, and fries were all average, but the onion rings were fantastic.

+1

Joe’s cafe has great breakfast, lunch and dinner, almost always, they also have a bar that serves stiff drinks. We ordered the French dip, comes with fries and salad. Another ordered the Phillip’s Crab salad sandwich, it’s grilled on sourdough bread and comes with fries. It was awful and tasted bad. She took one bite and left the rest. I shared my French dip with her. French dip was pretty good.

+6

I really enjoyed the food here. The pie and dessert was amazing. The service was slow but it was very packed so that part was understandable. The only thing that I have to comment on was that I ordered my prime rib to be medium but it came out well and was very dry at some parts. Aside from that the prime rib was still amazing but I feel it could have been way better with more juice in the middle.

French toast wasn't good, eggs Benedict was ok, coffee was good, iced tea was good. Service was very good however, friendly/attentive staff, food came out fast.

I have been eating at Joes since the 90s. The food is a bit ok, but there are some gem dishes like the french dip. What drives me a bit loco is that the red wines (cab. sav) by the glass leave a lot to be desired. I am sure Luckys has good wine by the glass so why not Joes cafe. For example a solid CAB that would sell for $12 a glass such as Trefethen cabernet sauvignon would hit the spot. thanks much and will be back. I know they make great drinks but sometimes you just want a glass of wine with your steak.

Great place for breakfast. The food came out fast and delicious which was perfect as I was in a hurry. What more can you ask for for $10-$20 per dish? Joe's is an institution that has been serving the community since 1928.

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

The reviews we read before we decided to go here for dinner were so true! This is such a fun, lively place to have good food and drinks 😃 The drinks definitely were the best!! They had a lovely selection. The service was good. Food wasn’t great but it was definitely good. The atmosphere was lively and buzzing on a Thursday evening. Highly recommend this place!

Joes is a cool place restaurant during the day and bar at night unfortunately although almost 100 years old the food tastes like that it's hard to ruin breakfast but they managed the huevos cubano …

Joes is a cool place restaurant during the day and bar at night unfortunately although almost 100 years old the food tastes like that it's hard to ruin breakfast but they managed the huevos cuban…

Most people would take this place for granted but it's a gem. The menu reads like a food bible. We smashed the open face tri-tip sandwich that you can see in the photo. \n\nIt came with a nice sized …

Most people would take this place for granted but it's a gem. The menu reads like a food bible. We smashed the open face tri-tip sandwich that you can see in the photo. \n\nIt came with a nice si…

Most people would take this place for granted but it's a gem. The menu reads like a food bible. We smashed the open face tri-tip sandwich that you can see in the photo. \n\nIt came with a nice size…

Love the old school charm and consistent brunch atmosphere! Service was somewhat slack\nbut food did not disappoint- best "coffee shop" coffee too!

Love the old school charm and consistent brunch atmosphere! Service was somewhat slack\nbut food did not disappoint- best "coffee shop" coffee too!

Love the old school charm and consistent brunch atmosphere! Service was somewhat slack\nbut food did not disappoint- best "coffee shop" coffee too!

Love the old school charm and consistent brunch atmosphere! service was somewhat slack\nbut food did not disappoint- best "coffee shop" coffee too!

Both my partner and I enjoy our meals. Service was excellent and we were given a good explanation of how the dishes came. Very good variety of dishes on the menu. Happy to Recommend.

Both my partner and I enjoy our meals. service was excellent and we were given a good explanation of how the dishes came. Very good variety of dishes on the menu. Happy to Recommend.

We stumbled across this restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara and thought we'd have fish and chips, it being a Friday. It was fine, you just can't compare it with fish and chips from a British fish a…

We stumbled across this restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara and thought we'd have fish and chips, it being a Friday. It was fine, you just can't compare it with fish and chips from a British fi…

I ordered the open face tri tip sandwich. The meat was cold. The soda was flat. The prices were a little on the expensive side for what I ordered. I wanted a piece of pie, but for one slice it…

I ordered the open face tri tip sandwich. The meat was cold. The soda was flat. The prices were a little on the expensive side for what I ordered. I wanted a piece of pie, but for one slice …

I ordered the open face tri tip sandwich. The meat was cold. The soda was flat. The prices were a little on the expensive side for what I ordered. I wanted a piece of pie, but for one slice it…

My wife ordered the open faced prime rib sandwich which she rated as 5/10. I ordered Fish and Chips, and I emphasized to our server “NO salt on the fries”. Three pieces of fish were fine, french …

This place is located in a pedestrian street of the village. The location is really nice however the place did not convience me. The food is ok. Portions as always huge. The quality isn't the best lacks a bit of flavor. The price is very high in my opinion for what they serve you. Our waitress was nice but the service was very slow. I have now to make a point on the atmosphere. The location of the place is very good and the local is a nice classic cafe. However the plsce is really loud and busy. We were eating while some men were drinking on the bar. There is a lot of noise too between the music and the people talking.

The food was delicious and the atmosphere was nice but our waiter was not on point at all and slow paced. She took about 15 minutes to take our order, she got our food wrong, and getting refills was the worst. We ask her for napkins and condiments and she said smirk like "is that it?". We then would ask the busboys (whom were excellent) and they were on it. Till the very end when getting our card back from paying took about 10 minutes. Overall, great food and great busboys but terrible service from the waiter.

Chef salad: Very expensive plate of lettuce, very small amount of Oscar Meyer style processed turkey cheese ham and not much else. I'd get a better chef salad at 7-11. I never sent a salad back but I did this one.

This place was recommanded by our routard guide. Was said that the place could be full and noisy. Seems "normal" as it close at 22. Not easy to find here... but we found easy place at 21. The BbQ ribs half on specials were good, cheese ravioli for veggie very good with cream sauce, fried chicken sandwich "one of the best" for my 2 children (16 and 19). But, don't order Phillipp's crab salad sandwich as joes cafe tradition ! 2 toasts with "crab pate" and fries cooked in too old oil... I was really disapointed. Deserts looked great (apple pie, cheesecake)

I don't recommend eating outside because you might become forgotten. Happened to us. The food was OK. My wife and I both got french dip. Outside eating in the area is a bit of hit or miss also due to homeless in the area. Was not comfortable. Might have gotten a better experience inside. Service was really lacking day we went. Might consider trying it out again, not for sure, though.

Took my family out for a nice lunch at Joe’s Cafe. We were seated within 20 minutes of arrival without any reservations on their outside dining to accomodate my dog. I love how they are really dog-friendly and they even have a dedicated food/water bowl for their four-legged guests. Also, you can order a side of chicken or a side of burger for your dog/cat in case you want them to join you for a meal. The inside of the cafe looks great! The environment and the ambience feels very homey. I surely wish that we could experience eating inside on our next visit. Also, the outside table was too small for 5 people to be eating on. Staff is friendly and you could tell that she’s trying her best. The service wasn’t that bad but there is a lot of room for improvement. Our appetizers came after the main course have been served and consumed halfway which is not cool. Condiments and utensils are also not readily available. Food is great, not gonna lie. Although quite expensive for its serving size, I highly recommend trying their crab cakes - very delicious and creamy! Meat Loaf was also good as well as their 1/2 Jidori Chicken.

+6

Bonnie Riehl

Great service and location. The food wasn't good. I got the crab salad (a self proclaimed specialty) and it wasn't good - tasted like relish. My mom got the tri tip and it was average at best. My husband got the smash burger and said it was good. We did enjoy sitting outside with friendly service. I would not return though.

Fun old style atmosphere. Bartender was quite good handling another busy night. I chose the top sirloin steak with mushroom/onions med-rare although was told they have higher quality beef available…

Basic pub fair. The fries were the best part and they tasted like old oil. My veggie burger’s bun had nothing on it but lettuce and a tomato, totally dry bun. My husband’s OMAHA was so to…

I'm sorry, but this steak was awful. the meat is overcooked, tough, these stripes with a touch of burning, as if the dishes in which it was cooked had not been washed for a year.

GF and I stopped here for breakfast yesterday and ordered the Omaha and Eggs, French Toast, and an Esperesso Martini. Drink was good, and huge--easily two servings. I have to comment about the food though. What was delivered to us was one of the most bland spreads of food, I've ever had. No color, very little flavor. Very unappealing. But we still got to pay $80 for everything. Maybe that's just the SB tax, but where we come from, we get much better breakfasts for nearly half this much. I would not return here, and I'm not sure how restaurants that serve food like this are still around when you can all read this review and go somewhere else.

Not sure what the hype is all about. Overall, it was mediocre at best. The clam chowder, sauteed mushrooms and the corn bread --- all sides -- were the best part. Tried to order mac n cheese, they were out. Ordered the tri-tip sandwich, but we received the prime rib sandwich (horseradish and au jus served on side..hint hint). Normally, I'd be delighted and it looked good, but it wasn't tasty at all. The "salad' on it was bag lettuce with 3 slivers of carrot. Ordered a sidecar, but they brought out something else which I returned. Bartender came over and apologized. I played it safe and got the house wine. All my pictures tell the story. Paid the full price bill and left to eat down the street. Wont be back.

A group of us (4) had lunch at Joe's on 12/27/2025 around 2:00 and thought it was wonderful, we had a large table next to us cheering for the Chargers on TV. Unfortunately for me at about 11:00 PM I got very ill from food poisoning from the Crab Cake sandwich. I was the only one that was ill that evening so had to be the crab! I spent the next day sick in bed. Just wanted to put tis out there is all. I'm sure it's a great place for those that didn't have the crab! Don't order the crab!

Jeff S

We chose to eat at Joe’s Cafe because of its long-standing reputation as a Santa Barbara icon that has been around for decades. We were excited to finally experience a piece of local history. The sidewalk patio did offer a pleasant atmosphere and was great for people-watching, although it’s worth noting that most restaurants along that stretch of State Street now offer similar sidewalk dining, so it didn’t feel particularly unique. Unfortunately, the service was marginal at best. We had to ask for silverware after our food arrived, and we ended up grabbing condiments from another table because none were brought out with our meal. These small details significantly impacted the overall experience. The food itself was just okay. Not bad, but not what we expected from such an iconic restaurant. It felt like the quality and effort no longer matched the reputation. Overall, Joe’s Cafe seems to be relying more on its history than on delivering a memorable dining experience today. With a little more attention to service and food quality, it could easily live up to the legacy it’s known for.

No thanks. \n\nThe server was beyond slow. Then brought me a completely wrong sandwich. I only came to this restaurant for a crab sandwich. The bread was toasted, but the filling was ice cold. …

Lets keep it Real, and lets after it! At Joes cafe for me it's one and done!! The service was beyond terrible! The ambience their is none, has about as much warmth, and inviting atmosphere, as a mo…

I had a very pleasant experience when I visited this restaurant back in 2021 and was excited to return. Unfortunately, this visit was disappointing. I ordered the chicken Parmesan, and it was served so hot that I burned the entire roof of my mouth, resulting in what my doctor confirmed as a mild second-degree burn. Even after letting it cool for a while, the food was still too hot to eat safely. It’s now been three days since my visit, and eating anything remains painful and difficult. When you order food at a restaurant, it shouldn’t arrive cold—but it also shouldn’t be so hot that it causes injury. Food should be served at an appropriate, safe temperature. Other than this issue, the waiters were nice and provided good service. However, I’m really disappointed. I was so shocked by what happened with the food that I couldn’t even complain at the time, as I was also in a rush. But I wanted to inform other customers about my experience. I hope the restaurant takes more care in the future to ensure the safety and comfort of its guests

They charge you for to-go boxes, when you place an order for takeout. But if you eat in-house, and ask for it to go box, they don't charge you. Place is a rip off. Mediocre food, slow service.

The food was average at best. The servers asked us if we were okay a few times. The part of the visit that was such a turn off was when we were charged out. We had left a cash tip that was generous for the average service we received. My fiancé paid the bill with credit card and left tip blank. The server was immediately challenging him as to why no tip was filled in. We had to explain that a cash tip was left. The server did not apologize either. This was really embarrassing and I absolutely will never be back. I will discourage all of my friends to go there as well.

We came as a group of 5 and the food was terrible. Ordered a hamburger and it was burnt! The patty was dry, the bun was soggy and burnt in the inside. One of our food didn’t arrive until 15-20 minutes after the other 4 dishes we ordered. Terrible having paid $17 for a burnt burger! 🤢

A complete rip-off. I spent $20 dollars for blueberry pancakes that ended up being very small. I was bothered about this, but wrote the issue off as a misunderstanding/bad choice of restaurant and decided it was fine. Then they added a gratuity to our bill for a group of 8 people. This would have been fine if it was stated anywhere but it was not stated on the menu, in the restaurant, or by our waiter. I would never come back here.

Pasta was really horrible... both chicken piccante and parmesan... not worth $55 This is insane...

This place gets a 1 simple for the food. The service was great, however, food quality matters. The chicken and waffles leaves a lot to be desired. The chicken and waffles cost $20.75 which is not worth it.

David Kim

I had a really disappointing experience at Joe’s Cafe. The food was absolutely terrible — bland, greasy, and clearly not fresh. Everything tasted like it had been sitting out for hours. On top of that, the place was filthy. The tables were sticky, the floors were dirty, and it just felt unhygienic overall. I don’t know how this place is still open. Definitely not coming back, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

+2