Joe’s Bar and Grill

I should probably hold off on this review as I’ve only been to Joe’s a couple of times during the daylight hours to grab soft drinks and once in the wee hours to order some greasy gross food to mitigate some of my impending hangover. But it seems like Joe’s is now closed! So obviously I absolutely must get my two cents in before it’s transformed into something else.
Joe’s just happens to be located amongst several other similar establishments. Sporty like bar with your standard fare and drink. I recall a shuffleboard, perhaps some other forms of entertainment?
It seems to attract mostly an older rough and tumble crowd just looking to kick back and relax. Not the liveliest «hippest» crowd — possibly leading to its demise?
It’s a comfortable large establishment, I’ll give it that. And well, very much so since it was never crowded the few times I briefly stopped by.
The bartenders were always pretty lovely and quick, no complaints there. The fare was you know, pretty typical stuff. There were a few vegetarian options. Even less vegan ones.
Anyway R.I.P. Joe’s, you were pretty okay all in all but I’m not too surprises you’ve left us!

What a disappointment.
In an effort to produce a concise review, I’ll spare you all the details.
My parents and I recently checked out Joe’s because it was conveniently located to a meeting point later in the evening. We are very open-​minded people, and having all collectively worked many years of service, we like to give service workers the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, it felt like we had to try really hard to please them, when really it should be the other way around.
A lady did approach our table to take our order, but we couldn’t even manage a smile from her, much less any form of communication beyond the bare essentials. I understand; she could be tired, distracted, ending her shift, etc., etc. So, my stepdad attempted to communicate with her that we’d like to take good care of her, and if she’s about to end shift, let us know, so we can be sure to tip her out. Still, no emotional response. No eye contact. It was like talking to a robot.
After she brought our drinks, she didn’t return again, so my stepdad approached the bar to order another round and some food too. A different lady behind the bar gave him some real attitude about ordering from the bar vs. at the table. But, we couldn’t order from the table because there was no one to take our order! Plus, I thought we should be encouraged to order and purchase more, not made to feel guilty for doing so.
Anyway, we kind of all communicated how offended we were by the curt and impersonal service, and went outside to finish our drinks. After she brought our check, still nothing. No «have a good night,» or «thanks,» or even «goodbye.» It didn’t matter; we were happy to leave.
Heads up, Joe’s: Service Matters. Quite a lot actually. One star for enjoyable fried pickles that somehow had more personality and charisma than the human beings with which we engaged.

The best thing we had here was the fries, which were thin and crispy, but not dry crispy — almost bubbly crispy. Very nice. Everything else was just. .. ok. This is a sports bar, and for sports bar food it was pretty good. But the place was empty and we still had to chase down the waitress and sometimes remind her twice for something as simple as a tea refill. Or a check. You know. Complicated stuff like that. Sure, we sat in the back, but. .. come on.
The parmesan-​crusted chicken had no evidence of parmesan or crust on it. It was like one of those breaded fish sticks from the box. Pretty flavorless, but it had an ok texture. The cheese fettucine on which it lay probably had two weeks worth of artery-​clogging grease, but it was pretty tasty — for at least two hours, as I think my gall bladder was trying to punish me for the perceived insult. If you ate the chicken with the fettucine it was pretty good.
We also had a bleu cheese bacon burger. There was one microscopic bleu cheese crumble hidden under a little slice of bacon. Tasty, but meager. Especially at these prices. The burger itself was ok, nothing special.
Overall, if it was a dive bar charging dive bar prices, I might have bumped it up a star. Oh, and if the service had been better. But these were pricey meals, $ 11 for the chicken and $ 9 for the burger. Fortunately we had a coupon, so the prices were more in line with the value.
Like I said, best thing was the fries — and there were PLENTY of them. Probably had something to do with the little discussion my gall bladder had with me for the rest of the evening. *burp*

My guess that the only thing saving Joe’s Bar & Grill from being swallowed up to «Will Never Remember You Land» is their food. The place itself has never done much for me and can’t really think of a time that any of my friends have ever asked to meet there. They do have a few TVs on the walls and a large projection in the front area of the bar. The place is dimly lit with a couple of garage style doors by the middle to let some of the fresh air in on cool nights. I guess one of the different things Joe’s has is a bocce ball court off to the side, but nobody ever really uses it other than to stand around and smoke. Service here can be a nightmare, so be prepared to raise a handkerchief and wave your waitress down. Maybe one of those little «WAITER PLEASE» flags from Pancho’s Mexican Buffet would be handy… anyone else remember those?
If you do happen to find yourself at Joe’s Bar & Grill, don’t be too sad. The food gets a +1 star from me because it really is good. Try their grilled wings, they’re really different and delicious. The Grilled California BLT Burger was juicy and had a nice peppery flavor. On previous occasion, I tried their «House Specialty,» which is meatloaf with potatoes and veggies… nothing too spectacular, but the portion was great and it was a nice change from standard bar food.
Joe’s Bar & Grill biggest downfall is it’s ambiance, or lack there of… it’s the sort of place that you tend to overlook. But that could be what makes this a great spot to catch a big sports game! We’ve come here a couple of times when other bars were really full and always got a good table.

Digging this bar as it’s becoming my usual hang out for pub trivia every Tuesday. Mother Egan’s Irish Pub used to host trivia right around the corner but had to relocate venues.
Trivia is still the same set up as each group is given a sheet of paper to write down the answers to the questions and then turn in for calcuation after the round is done. It’s 5 rounds of 10 questions each. Trivia starts at 7:30 and roughly ends around 9:30 — 9:45.
Love that the bar is a lot larger inside with more seating room. Friendly service staff, and large menu selection. I would still say that Mother Eagan’s still has better bar food, but Joe’s decent. Only disappointment so far are the french fries as they’re super skinny with barely any potato to indulge on.
Dinner specials on Tuesday begin at $ 4-​$ 6. Don’t remember the beer specials but know that Tito’s and Captin’s are only $ 3 bucks. Sweet!
Haven’t gone any other night of the week, but it’s worth checking out on a Tuesday with friends for fun.

Joe’s is dependable for one thing: you’ll always be able to find a seat. Saturday night at 1am? Not a problem. Honestly, I’m not sure how Joe’s is still in business sometimes, given that it is never crowded. Joe’s is often the last stop of the night, as it’s a block from my loft. They have Fireman’s #4 on tap, which I love. Their food is generally good; love the fries. A friend swears by the mac and cheese with Nathan’s hot dogs.
The vibe in Joe’s is generally pretty chill. When it’s warmer out, they have a great patio out back. The tables are pretty far apart back there, which is nice because while I enjoy sitting outside, I’m not a smoker. Patios have seemed to have turned into the smoking section of restaurants, which I’m fine with, as long as I’m not practically sitting on top of the table next to me. Joe’s fits the bill.

Let’s get this out of the way: the service was awful. I had to get up three times to find the waitress. First, to let her know we were there. Second, to place my order. Third, to pay my bill. Thankfully, the food made up for it.
Their ahi tuna salad was incredible and the mac and cheese (with hot dogs — really) was delicious. Its a nice space — pretty open with lots of tables and a good view of the game at any one. The convenience factor is really high here but make sure you don’t park in Frank and Angie’s unless you’ve got an extra $ 200 to throw away.

First thing I noticed when I walked into this bar/grill…the staff and even the people in the bar look at my friend and I as if they have never seen any «ASIANS» before — wow.
Hmm…anyways, we order beers and some food. The only thing that was tasty was the french fries, which is pretty sad. Plus our waitress rushed us to close our tab, since she was getting off her shift.
Note to the business owner: You’re losing business that way.
Upside of things… my company and also playing bocce on a wonderful sunny day in Austin. However, that’s probably the only thing they have going. But I don’t think this place deserves any credit for that. A big disappointment for West 6^th.

My wife and I went to Joe’s on a Tuesday night because of their advertised «free taco bar.» (We’re poor and needed an excuse to get out of the apartment. Don’t judge us.)
I’ll try and touch on some of the prior reviews, as well as, offer my own insight.
Parking wasn’t a problem for us. We went around 5:30, so mostly there was still some street parking available, although, when we left (around 7:30) parking could have been an issue if we were just arriving. Many of the street spots had been taken.
The overall atmosphere of the bar was nothing better than any other bar. Nothing set it apart from any other Austin bar. Did it have a patio out back? Yes. Did it have roll-​up doors for better weather? Yes. Did it have some flat screens? Yes. All great advantages to any bar, but nothing atypical.
We ate the free tacos. That’s the reason we went. The free taco bar consisted of flour tortillas, cheese, lettuce, and beef. They were decent. They were filling. We also paid for some chips and queso, which was just mediocre, especially compared to the queso that Austin has to offer. It was supposed to be ½ priced appetizers for happy hour; we were charged full price.
The staff was lackluster. The bartender was on his cell phone most of the time we were there, and had to be beckoned by waitresses to attend to customers. He didn’t greet us, nor did he say «have a good night,» etc. as we passed by him on our way out. Generally, no one did anything that wowed us. No one even seemed to be interested in being there. I mean, at the very least, you expect decent conversation from a bartender, especially when you’re the only ones sitting at the bar (read: us).
The music was good. I’m guessing it was a satellite radio situation, but, man, was it good. Every song that came on, (mostly classic rock-​sh and Motown) was great. We were definitely pleased with the music.
Overall, Joe’s is a nothing-​special bar in downtown Austin. Better food is only a step away at Hut’s, and better drinks and better service is across the street at Opal’s.

This place was a pleasant surprise. We were meeting up with a friend to catch some NFL playoff action. During the night, our group grew from 4 to 8 to 12+. Despite the chaos we presented to the waitstaff by adding tables and staggered arrivals, the waitresses were friendly and attentive.
There are plenty of TVs behind the bar, along the walls and in each corner of the room. Nobody had to stretch to see the games.
As for the food, I really enjoyed their blackened chicken sandwich (grilled) with bacon. The fries were excellent too. The lady friend had the portobello mushroom sandwich with a side salad, which she claims was really good.
They had a beer special too — $ 10 pitchers of Miller Lite and Bud Light. Not bad.
As other Unilocalers have alluded to, their parking situation is bleak. The have $ 6 valet or street parking. And I would strongly, strongly discourage anyone from parking at Frank & Angie’s. When some of our friends arrived, they parked at F&A and noticed a Joe’s employee getting on his cell phone immediately after they walked into the bar. (presumably it was the owner or manager since he was in street clothes but walked into and out of the kitchen routinely throughout the night). Our friends realized their mistake and moved their car but be forewarned about their lack of parking, which is not necessarily news for an establishment near West 6^th Street.

Yay! We’ve finally found it! It’s about time! The pinnacle of mediocrity!
Mediocre food, mediocre service, mediocre atmosphere, a far less than mediocre wine list, etc. My boyfriend and I went for two for one burgers and while yes, they were in fact two for one AND came with fries, they just weren’t that yummy. I just wanted more! More flavor, better music, fewer redbull high tops on the patio, wine other than hobnob and yellow tail. Well done with the $ 1.50 Lone Stars, though.
I’m mean, go ahead, give it a shot. Maybe your experience will be different. But I will be spending my happy hours elsewhere.

Joe’s serves a purpose in the W. 6^th district, and that would primarily be the fact that they have a nice, appealing menu in what appears to be a bar-​food dead zone.
And before you get humpty like, «whattabout Wahoo’s or J. Blacks or …», then pause for a second and consider that none of those or any other surrounding places have a casual menu in a bar setting (well, ok, Opal’s does too).
I’m actually impressed with their menu and their amicable pricing. Not only were our selections pretty damn tasty, but under $ 30 with two full meals, two beers each, tax and tip. Not bad, even if the location was south-​of-​the-​river and the cuisine was tex-​mex. Instead, we got quality ingredients (steak sliders, salad, fresh cut fries) in a downtown location.
They also have an outdoor HD screen and several inside screens for gamewatching, which seems to be something I would return for.

Did someone mention deep fried pickle spears? Wha, wha, what?!
My friend took me here right when I got off the plane. We split an order of mini burgers and DFP.
First, the burgers were delish. Great beef, and smoked Gouda so it tasted like we had bacon (huge fan) on the burger without the guilt — sooo tasty.
But let’s bring our attention back to the DEEP FRIED PICKLES. Obviously you can tell it was my first time; I’m not ashamed to say it. They were perfectly battered, nice crust, and when you bite into it the pickle was warm, which is a trip but still tasted amazing. There was a side of ranch which is always a bonus, but they didn’t need the dippy.
I feel like I’m on a mission now. In search of a California DFP that can match those of Joe’s… wish me luck.

PROS:
1) Second song they played after I walked in was MJ’s «Dirty Diana.» What?! And, Awesome. Tunes were random and pretty great all night. They also play out on the patio.
2) Patio (s) are giant. One in front and in back. this place is pretty damn big. Surprisingly. Would be a great place to hold a private party or ( Unilocal!)event –as there are lots of different «areas.»
3) GAMES! Bocci ball, shuffleboard, pool, etc.
4) Flat screen TVs placed such that no matter where you are sitting you can see them
5) Pretty people (waitresses in short shorts, cute college peeps, etc)
6) Lots of booze. Full bar, lots of wine, at least 30 beers by the bottle, 10+ kinda of tequila, lots of wine, etc.
7) Bacon comes standard on a burger. The meat was perfectly cooked for me (medium rare), juicy, and tasty.
8) Nathan’s hotdogs. Nuff said.
CONS:
1) The aforementioned burger was 8.95. Ridiculous. Unless it’s wedensday and its 2-​for-​1. There are a lot of daily specials here (drinks, a spagetti bar, etc which in my opinion is the only way they can get away with it)
2) Guacamole was a pureed extremely overripe avacado. eew.
3) Cheese was a crappy slice of American (Velvetta, I’m ok with, but this is the cheap stuff. besides, for nine bucks can I get some pepperjack!?)
4) The mexican martini was too sweet/​sour. Trudy”s is still my fav.
5) Old people. Yes, I mentioned there were lots of pretty people. True. But on the other end there were and couple groups of older people. One whatever-​you-​call-​a-​gal-​whose-​too-​old-​to-​be-​a-​cougar lit up a joint on the front patio. Ballsy.
I was pretty upset by the guac/​cheese situation. But now that I’m writing, the pros outweight this. I’m going up one more star. Looking forward to coming back on game day for a beer and hot dog.

My wife and I just discovered Joe’s. Their happy hour is fan-​friggin-​tastic. Tuesday nights they have a free taco bar (with drink purchase). No tomatoes, but good beef, fine tortillas, and a few fixins. But drinks are cheap, too! I had a $ 3.50 margarita that almost knocked me flat out, and they have super cheap beer. Thursday is a pasta bar. The week we were there they had what I’d call linguine alfredo; not too tasty but still free. And during happy hour the apps are ½ off as well as glasses of wine, and I believe wells are $ 3. We had a combo app platter — usually not on happy hour specials at most places, but it was here — and it was very tasty. The fried pickles were especially good.
The atmosphere is eclectic, but laid back, fairly unique for the area. You feel comfortable being yourself there.
Unlike other reviews, we found the staff to be attentive and super friendly. It seemed like they enjoyed their jobs, which can be unique in the sports bar scene. Lots of good TVs to watch games. I’m looking forward to more temperate weather to take advantage of the outdoor patio.
(Even though I remember this as a game sports bar from a previous late night visit a few months ago, it appears that they’ve taken down or moved many of the bar games.)
As we were finishing on our Tuesday visit, my wife commented that she could go there at least once a week. For those who live downtown or need a casual, easy, fun place with good food and cheap drinks (especially during happy hour), you can’t go wrong.

We visited this place after eating pizza next door. It was rather dissapointing to find out that the were not really any games in the bar except pool and 2 dart boards in bad locations one above 2 tables in the back room «excuse me… I didn’t mean to throw a dart into your skull»). The other in front of the Toilets.
The beer selection was decent, the service was really slow and why do they only serve a beer bucket with 4 beers?
If your going to advertise games maybe you should have some! Their video shows shuffle board and some arcade games. Do they only bring them out after dark?

Five of my friends and I wanted to have a casual get together over some food and drinks. I set out searching for a place an after reading reviews on Unilocal,I found Joe’s Bar & Grill.
To cut to the point, we were disapointed at what Joe’s couldn’t do for us. I arrived after two of my friends had gotten there and ordered from the bar. We sat down at a table, and actually moved a second table closer to us, to accommodate the total of 6 who were coming. My friends had ordered their drinks from the bar, and said their initial impression was not positive. The person at the bar took their order but was «too occupied in a conversation with a co-​worker to answer any questions».
As the remainder of our group showed up, no one ever came to our table, even though there was a young woman who was obviously waiting tables around us. This was over a 25 minute period. Once all of our group had arrived, the six of us sat there for at least 15 minutes waiting for someone to greet us or ask us if we wanted to order a drink. We saw her clean a table right next to us, but never make eye contact with us or attempt to ask engage us for an order. Once our early arriving friends finished their beers we decided to leave.
There were 3 – 4 employees on duty, and at least one of them was tending to other tables around us. She even cleaned off a table right next to us. One table even showed up after we did and was tended to. There were only 20 – 25 people in the restaurant overall while we were there, so its not a matter of being too busy The staff was seen several times chatting in a group at one end of the bar.
Now I understand, we could have stepped up to the bar and asked for someone to come to the table and take our order but since you are a «bar & grill» and that other tables were being waited upon, we waited to be approached ourselves.
In the end, we ended up next door at Frank & Angie’s, and enjoyed a great dinner and drinks. Our final tab was around $ 100 and our waitress was welcoming, courteous and in light of the service we felt at Joe’s she was rewarded well for that.

I’ve had most items on the menu and can appreciate the diversity although the service can also be spotty and seems to lack good ‘flow’ through various sections. The big draw here is the openness of the front, side, and large deck out back (complete with HD projector). There’s also pool, pinball and some classic video games — fun for the whole family!
But I digress…
Check out the Mac N’ Cheese (with franks), crab cakes, club sammy and be careful about stealing fries off your neighbor’s plate — it may get slapped.
Who’s up for Bocce Ball and Beer?

I like this place a lot and I want to give it 5 stars for allowing my Butt Sniffer (My Pup for those who do not speak Dog Vibe) to hang out with me on the patio. I love places I can drink and dine with my Pup and this place does not let me down. It just does not hold up to 5 stars if I was not in the company of my best four legged friend. So, 4 stars for Joe’s Bar and Grill.
Joe’s is a nice neighborhood Bar and Grill nestled in between Downtown Lofts — nice patio and inside there are flat screen TVs, pool tables, shuffle boards and bocce ball for entertainment.
In addition to Beer and Wine they have a nice selection of Tequila and some darn good bar food. I need Food with my Alcohol so this is important in my rating a bar. I highly recommend the Peel and Eat Shrimp, Mushrooms stuffed with shrimp, and Fried Egg Sandwich with Bacon, Lettuce and Tomatoes served with french fries tossed with garlic, salt and pepper.
Nice bar menu — I will be back furr sure (with my furry friend in tow)…

One of my favorites in the West 6^th area because it hasn’t fallen prey to the douchey crowd just yet. It’s never packed, has killer food and the outdoor patio is roomy.
Mac n cheese is off the charts, though I’m not a hot dog fan so I kinda gag on the Nathan’s dogs after a few bites. That’s easily fixed by picking them out, though.
Burgers are supertasty, though sometimes a bit salty.
Get the Bananas Foster. It’s more than worth the extra sixteen miles you’ll need to run to work it off tomorrow. I ordered this a month ago and my mouth still waters just thinking about it. Crispy caramelized topping, sugary and chewy nanners, melty vanilla ice cream. Scrumptious. We went back last night to get it, but they were out of bananas. Totally crushed my expectations. But really, it just gives me an excuse to come back. Soon.
The half-​price wine all day on Thursdays sorta made up for that, though.