Bon Appetit: Original Joe's One of the Most Celebrated Italian-American Restaurants
The Bay Area's time-honored, family-owned restaurant, Original Joe's, is featured in Bon Appetit's collection of essays dubbed "Red Sauce America," a celebration of Italian-American restaurants around the nation, serving up more than just pasta.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 7, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Original Joe's, a third-generation family-owned and operated Italian-American restaurant, was included in Bon Appetit Magazine's compilation of essays entitled Red Sauce America, released on April 16, 2019. A "coast-to-coast celebration" of old-school Italian-American restaurants, the magazine handpicked writers, chefs and celebrities to delve into the true meaning behind their favorite so-called "red-sauce joints."
In Chris Ying's essay, "When Will American Chinese Food Get the Red Sauce Treatment?", the author and cofounder of Lucky Peach magazine states, "when I eat at a restaurant like Original Joe's, I feel hopeful." The essay parallels the ongoing success of an old-school, red-sauce joint like Original Joe's with how "Italian Americans have progressed from a demonized immigrant group to an unquestioned part of the country's fabric." Like many others, Ying finds it encouraging that "Original Joe's continued to flourish" in the current climate of hyper-regional and seasonal menus.
For over 80 years, Original Joe's has been serving up classic, Italian-American fare in an open kitchen for all to see. Founded by a Croatian immigrant in 1937, Original Joe's transformed from a 14-stool counter on a sawdust-covered floor into a nationally-recognized brand operating two thriving restaurants in the Bay Area. Brand-defining elements such as period décor, rich woodwork, spacious booths, ambient lighting, exhibition-style kitchen, mesquite grill, and counter seating, are consistently well-received by a wide range of guests. The menus feature a full selection of unpretentious, Italian-American fare—from beef, veal, chicken, pasta, and seafood, to more modern options like salad selections, appetizers, signature soups and house made desserts. Overtime, the Original Joe's menu has come to be known as much for its comfortable familiarity as for its abundant portions.
Since its inception, Original Joe's has developed into a beacon of hope and camaraderie in the community. Whether they be a head politician, an NBA all-star, or an average "Joe" off the street, Original Joe's is a place where anyone and everyone can feel at home. The reasons one might initially pass through the lobby doors will differ, however, the reasons bringing one back are the same: the shared memories, the family gatherings, and the cultivation of lifelong friendships. And those, alone, are the not-so-secret ingredients with which Original Joe's serves up much more than red sauce and pasta on a plate.
About Original Joe's
For over 80 years, Original Joe's has been serving old-fashioned, Italian-American fare in an open kitchen for all to see, providing healthy portions at reasonable prices. The oldest of all the "Joe's" restaurants, Original Joe's is the innovator of the nationally renowned "Joe's Concept:" exhibition kitchen, notable leather booths, and a menu offering an evolution of Italian-American cuisine. Now a third-generation family-owned and operated business, Original Joe's has two iconic locations found in the Bay Area: North Beach in San Francisco (601 Union St. at Stockton St.) and Westlake in Daly City (11 Glenwood Ave. at Lake Merced Blvd.), and has been recognized as one of the "Best Family-Owned Restaurants in the United States," and laurelled time and again by the local and national media.
SOURCE Original Joe’s
Share this article