San Rafael Joe's — Restaurant in San Rafael

The service was ok to an extent the table staff was helpful but our waitress questioned my request for a family style dinner— meaning my intent to share our pasta and salad plate — like an Asian dinner or family style Italian.. When I asked her we will split our plates, she made me and my guest feel bad that it was wrong to share our meals "The noodles are too long to split" What did she mean - I think she was trying to tell me "we don't split plates, the kitchen charges extra" - I told her don't split the plates I will do it at my table. I asked her if she had heard of "Family Style Italian dinners" where you share the dishes much like a Chinese dinner is served up. She made us feel like we were wrong for asking.

This confused her and it made my guest and I feel like we were not welcome since we are both Asian men. .. and the noodles are too long to spit into two plates / what .. The sauce for the pasta was excellent so much flavor but the pasta it’s self was a overcooked and mushy the salad I had a big mix salad wonderful with chopped eggs garbanzo beans tomatoes cucumbers and blue cheese dressing was also the highlight.

Other than the pasta being over cooked and mushy - and the waitress made us feel unwelcome the food was good. We also had great service from a table young man by the name of Chris. He really should take her place. What is so wrong about asking to have a "Family style Italian dinner".

Yes every costumer at Joes that night we were there were white, and spending 100's. I think that also may be the issue, as my table meal was less that 40.00 so she knew Joes would not make much off our dinner.

I was very disappointed. But Thank you Chris (if you read this) - I hope you get a waiter slot soon, you will...

I reserved this place for my fiancee's birthday, thinking it was more of an upscale restaurant. The atmosphere is way more casual, and more of a local crowd. Although, the prices and service where more upscale. The service was good, and friendly. Be prepared for a big menu though. It was a little overwhelming to be honest. To many choices, so to us it gave a bit of a diner appeal. We had Calamari, which was good, good breading. The salads were good, but if you dont like beans, beware. Would've liked to seen onions on them, but I love them. I ordered the Prime rib, with baked potato, and mixed veggies. Prime rib was perfect! If you are used to dipping your meat into extra Au jus you'll have to ask for it. The veggies were a lil bland but cooked good. My fiancee got a Veal Scaloppini Sec with mushrooms. (Local favorite) and he only ate the meat. The mushrooms and sauce wasn't appealing to his taste or mine. We had cheesecake for dessert, as it's my favorite. I was a little disappointed. It was very flakey, and not as creamy as some that I have had. Calamari, prime rib, veal, 3 glasses of zin house wine, 3 vodka soda...

We've had both excellent service and....okay service and different times. For the most part, it's been excellent service. We were here on a Sunday and had an older female server. She was very professional and consistent. Although she had a very large party to attend to, she was still able to attend to us without compromising the service.

I ordered the chicken breast piccata with potatoes and vegetables. She ordered the fried oysters with veggies and pots. The funniest thing about this place is that they have a side of peas available to order. We ordered a side of peas and shared them. They were really good. All of the food was really good.

The only downside at this place is that sometimes it could feel very hot and muggy inside if they have the heaters on high. Other than that, the food and service is...