Joe's of Westlake

The worst dinner experience ever-HERE!. Negative 5 STARS Born and raised in the bay, of course when I visit I would love to re-visit a "Fine Cuisine" old school, American, Italian restaurant. Last night my party of 4 called ahead, only to be told they don't take reservations for 4. We arrive at 8pm and were told it would be a half hour wait. Had drinks at the bar, service was good, price was right. #84 Yeah, that's us, we are seated, we waited, probably for about 15 minutes (not kidding). Mean time we were offered bread & butter. Finally waiter arrived apologized in his delay and took our drink order. We joked with him- "you can keep us happy if the drinks are topped off or comped" He laughed and shoved more bread on our table. Placed our order, my husband ordered minestrone soup, spaghetti & meat balls with ravioli my friend ordered the same, her boyfriend offered the fillet mignon with pasta- instead of red he wanted Alfredo sauce (waiter even advised it would cost extra). I asked what the waiter recommended "calamari steak, but I wash my hands if you no like" OK guess what after 6 loafs of bread, my husband and friend receiving the wrong soup, my friends boyfriend getting pasta with red sauce accompanied by side pasta with Alfredo sauce, I had this deep fried soggy, cold chewy calamari steak with chopped up over cooked ravioli at 10 o'clock AT NIGHT-I NO LIKE! The restaurant was more than half empty, the nice couple across from us had been waiting 25minutes just for their check. When my husband had to hunt the manager down, I explained the above and her reply was "yeah, we were busy, I won't charge you let me just take this all away". When she came back to take the rest away she decided to throw her two cents in by saying "the waiter didn't know you wanted white sauce". REALLY? Sorry Joe's never again.…

Why I like Westlake Joe's.. I like Joe's. I've been going there many years from the days when I worked at Green & Kauffman Real Estate nearby. My favorite dish is the -roast beef served with spaghetti. There are 3 sections where you can eat, the front with booths and tables, the counter where you can watch the cooks work and the back room. The backroom has fish tanks and was decorated in the old world style until a few years ago when it was brighted up and the windows let in light from overhead. I miss the old style and preferred the quiet atmosphere.

The waiters are old timers. Even the young fellows are old timers. The customers are old timers. Look in the parking lot and you will see big cars, cadillacs, big American cars. They are the plumbers, electricians, retired civil servants with money who come to Joes during the day time and sometimes early evening. The waiters may appear rude. I attribute this to the fact that they take customer orders and do so with efficiency. There are no smiles, or questions or introductions or telling you that the bus boy is their significant other as was so popular about 10 years ago. I think the customers, including myself like this type service. No nonsense, take the order and bring it, make return visits to the table and ask the customers how things are. They do show impatience that I have witnessed and that is directed at customers who have to read every line on the menu and discuss who is going to have what.

I do not like the salad as it is a strange mixture of cold vegetables. The pastine soup is so-so and not worth the price. Order beef, a steak , osso busco, pasta, deep fried potatoes, enjoy the italian bread and butter. The cocktails are fine, not expensive, the bar is nice and quiet. If you are out for a typical San Francisco Delfina's type evening, this is not the place for you. I am amazed at some of the reviews I have read. At one time, maybe even still Joe's was listed as being among the top most successful continous restaurants in California. The bad reviews are fun to read but don't say much.…