Original Joe’s history runs deep, beginning in 1937 as a 14-stool counter on a saw dust covered floor at 144 Taylor Street in San Francisco’s Tenderloin. It was opened by a Croatian immigrant, Tony Rodin, whose honest work ethic and vibrant sense of hospitality grew Original Joe’s into the culinary institution it is today.

Serving classic Italian-American fare, the restaurant prepares dishes in an open kitchen for all to see, providing hearty portions at reasonable prices. Original Joe’s is the innovator of the now nationally known “Joe’s Concept”—exhibition kitchen, notable leather booths, smooth cocktails and renowned Italian-American menu. The menu offers hamburgers, steaks, seafood and pastas, which now represent a Northern-California style of food that delivers the feeling of hope, camaraderie and optimism synonymous with the American Dream.