This place screams 1960's, from the crammed, too-small booths, to the tuck and roll upholstery and grim looking walls. On the other hand, the lunch I had me totally reminiscing about my old grandma; who had martini's with lunch, and everyone knew her name, and she always ordered her steak RARE and got it RARE. The food is good to a minimal standard, but it's that old-style food no one under the age of 60 really goes out for anymore. I mean, spaghetti with meat sauce is a side, for goodness sake, and they still have liver and onions on the menu (someone's ordering it!)The place was filled with older people, happily eating the old-school food and swilling cocktails. The beef tips w/ mushrooms I had was somewhat bland but well cooked and when doctored with salt/pepper a nice throw-back to my youth, and the freshly steamed, veggies, as boring as they could possibly be, were just what my grandma would have expected. My lunchmate had seared scallops, perfectly done, she said. This isn't a place I'd revisit, but to give it the props it deserves: Marin Joe's created one of the world's best dishes: Joe's Special, an unlikely combo of eggs, mushrooms, ground beef and onions, and it is truly one of life's must-try's. They also are one of the only low-brow joints still making Caesar salad table side, and to their benefit, they use an open grill for their meats... But... the place is sadly outdated and wretchedly grim and old. A chef friend tells me that when Joe died, the place lost it's charm, and I believe him. I'd bet there's a lot of aging boomers who are happy Joe's is still around, and even though I won't go back unless my now-aged mother forces me, the food is decent, old-fashioned grub that is going to go the way of the hof brau before you know it. There are so few of these places left, it just might be worth a try, so you'll know what you will (or won't) be missing when they're gone.
Pros: Old world food, mediocre at best, but that has it's old-school charms
Cons: See above.
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