During daylight hours, this long-lived restaurant (which has been in business in since 1928) serves steaks, sandwiches, seafood, and the like. When dinner crowds wind down, Joe's transforms into a great bar, packed with people sipping cocktails or cold beers. The family-run place is endearingly unassuming and filled with a convivial ambiance. Saddle up to the bar, or stake out a booth and relax into the night with the company of friends present and to be. A local institution.
Come for a beer, the stiffest drinks in town, to gobble spaghetti, and see and be seen.
Following a remodel which returned Joe’s Cafe to its 1920s origins, the classic bar-restaurant looks better than ever and is back to its old self: a major downtown hangout with the stiffest drinks around. When Joe Ferrario opened the place in 1928, Santa Barbara was just a sleepy waterfront town---but even then it was a hot-spot. Now people pile in after work for cocktails, comfort food and to see and be seen.
To be sure, the food plays second fiddle to the scene, but you’re safe with simple dishes like spaghetti and roast turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy. Given Joe’s longstanding reputation, the crowd is a mixed bag, and you can count on a fair amount of noise, which is part of the charm. Consulting chef Alex Castillo designed a weekend breakfast menu that’s worth a try.
    
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