Joe’s Cafe

Joe’s Café is pretty good, though some of the prices seem a bit high for the quality you get (compared to the food trucks, which are the closest competition — I’ve heard that the price/​value is better than most other on-​campus dining). Usually the best value is the Joe’s plate $ 5 special, though the quality can be a bit hit or miss on that (taco lasagna, the day after tacos didn’t sell out — or sometimes food that’s gone soft sitting in the warmer for hours). When it’s good, though, it can be the best value around. By far the best Joe’s plate is the weekly BBQ on Wednesday during warm months — your choice of a range of typical BBQ fare or a weekly special, along with chips and a drink, for $ 5. Tasty, and healthy for the wallet. I used to be an every day regular here, getting the Joe’s plate every day, but I’ve since started checking out the food trucks, and have found a lot of great values there also (for great quality, usually). Joe’s has a frequent diner card where you get a punch if you spend $ 7, and free lunch (up to $ 7) after 4 punches — which is OK, but I usually don’t spend that much on lunch. The old program ($ 5 per punch, and $ 5 free after 4 punches) was a steal, but I can see why they ended it.

Joe’s Café is pretty average for a University café. They don’t have many options on the menu. The reason I’m giving it three stars instead of two is because of the seating areas. There are plenty of chairs that are very comfortable and the outside area has a porch area and another area with a fountain. The inside area had good natural light and is perfect for studying in between classes.

I’m a fan!
You will definitely find me in Joe’s Café at least 2 – 3 times a week. I mostly use the space as a study space, but the food is also quite good (and one of the few places on campus that I actually eat at).
It’s definitely a great place for a quick grab-​n-​go (I sometimes opt for the energy bars if I’m in between classes as well as the yogurt cups or fruit cups) but the Joe’s Plates are also incredibly fantastic for just $ 5. You can check the menu online ahead of time to see which ones interest you, but guaranteed there is at least one a week that will sound appetizing to you! My favorites have been some pasta dishes and some rice-​based dishes, and what I truly love and appreciate most is the selection of vegetarian items that Joe’s carries.
What I also love is the daily selection of sandwiches; my favorite is the Tomato & Mozzarella sandwich, but I’m also a HUGE fan of the breakfast varieties (egg and cheese on rye bread as well as a croissant).
I can’t speak about the coffee or the pastries because I’ve never had, but I’ve heard great things!
I will definitely be a loyal Joe’s frequenter. A great and convenient option for Penn students!

DO NOT EAT THE SALAD!!! Mine had a lady bug in in. YES!!! A real lady bug in the side of the salad that I was eating on. I took it back and the manger was not apologetic. She asked me if I was eating outside and when I said no she rolled her eyes and asked me if I wanted another salad. I told her «HELL NO!» (I really just said no but you get the point) and she said «So, what do you want?». My money back would be nice. She gave me back my money and I went to get lunch elsewhere. When I got back to my office and shared the story, another woman stated that she got chicken from one of their Wednesday barbecues and it was not done. This place is so hit or miss so dine here at your own risk.

Joe’s Café is probably one of the better Bön Appetit-​run establishments on Penn’s campus. If you’re a Penn student, the food is no different from what you’d find at Houston, or under Commons – your standard café fare of sandwiches, sushi, soups, pastries, and little prepackaged snacks.
HOWEVER!
The one MAJOR plus of Joe’s Café is that – for reasons unknown – the prices are vastly lower here than they are most places around campus. In addition, the sandwiches and other food is pretty decent (a.k.a better than other Penn-​run food places, but that isn’t a very high standard…) and the seating area is fantastic, vast, and cozy.
If you’re in the area looking for an solid bite, check out Joe’s Café – especially if you’re a Penn student.

This was my first stop on the Penn Dining Café adventure. I dropped in on a Friday afternoon to grab a sammy after a long day of staring at my computer screen. The place is nice and has a ‘fishbowl’ environment that allows you to look out on a campus walkway. There are plenty of seats, some high-​top booths, high bar-​tops, regular tables, and more casual comfortable seating. You’ll see plenty of lap-​tops out and diligent Penn students working away. You might also catch some interesting conversations as Joe’s sits in the basement of a Wharton building.
My ‘panini’ was OK. More of a grilled ham sandwich with a marketing twist (again, Wharton building). They also have some good looking pastries, small snacks, pre-​packaged salads, made-​to-​order salads, three kinds of soup (decently priced to boot), and a number of other food items. The main fares consist of sandwiches and salads, with one other special dish (which I believe is rotating).
I didn’t try the coffee, but did notice they have ‘buck a cup’ if you bring your own mug. The highlight of my visit was the free pastry Friday, which it sounds like they do every Friday afternoon around closing time.
All around a good experience. Only three stars because I reserve my last two stars for place that really have amazing food, and this really was A-​OK. I’ll definitely be back for a good food/​work afternoon (probably Friday).

I worked in Steiny-​D over the summer, so I spent a lot of time in Joe’s Café. It’s a lot nicer than the Au Bön Pain in Huntsman Hall, although I prefer ABP’s massive selection of soups. The smoothies are tasty but expensive. Also, they’re made from syrups; I prefer the fruit cart in front of the 37^th Street Quad gate. The sandwiches are good, especially the tomato mozzarella with fresh basil. Unfortunately, when they heat the sandwiches, they barely get the outside warm at all, and the inside is completely cold.
Comfy seating, lots of natural light, TVs, and pretty decent food. It’s deserving of three stars.
So why the fourth? All summer long they have been doing a barbecue on Wednesdays. $ 5 for a main item (choose from a cheeseburger, chicken sandwich, and sometimes bratwurst or AMAZING baby back ribs), delicious chili, passable Miss Vickie’s chips, and a drink. For an extra dollar, they would throw in an exquisite dessert such as blackberry cobbler. Tragically, summer is ending, but they won me over. I’m really glad I tried out Joe’s Café.