Joe’s Place

I had to stop by and decided to try some of Joe’s «comfort food». King Ranch meal hit the spot. Fast preparation and an excellent price. Washed it done with a hard to find Single Malt Scotch. Joe even took some time to do a little story telling. I did not want to leave. I will definitely go back.

We had our third visit tonight and it really rocked! We knew it would.
Actually we’ve been kind of keeping this our little secret, but to be fair, Joe’s Place deserves a stellar write up.
This place is not for everyone. If you find dust bunnies under the front counter or wall spots disturbing, Joe’s Place may not be your place, so leave it to us. Joe’s focus is food, not slick, pretentious or particularly hipster it is low-​key friendly and the quintessential Austin experience.
This is a pop & son kind of place; they’re real down to earth long-​time Austinites and we’ve enjoyed chatting with them both. Dine inside or in the back patio.
How good is the food? DANG GOOD!
Can you say comfort food in five languages?
Tonight’s experience:
We split a beautifully presented spinach salad, which came out topped with bleu cheese crumbles, glazed bacon bits, walnut halves and just the right amount of balsamic vinaigrette (it’s amazing how many top chefs overdo the BV).
My entrée choice– the meatloaf sandwich. Which is weird because I’m not that fond of meatloaf and I’m not a sandwich fan. But the flavors —oh my!
Let’s say that if you just broke up with your sweetie– this is the one to dive for. Honey you won’t look back.
Topped with caramelized onions and a thin layer of bleu cheese, this savory meatloaf burger is the stuff of dreams (messy ones– get extra napkins). The only possible improvement might be to add an artisan bun such as Ciabatta. The bun was good, but might have been heftier to help control the wonders in between.
Phil went with the King Ranch Chicken– and the perfect convergence of 3 magic, endorphin-​producing flavors; corn, green chile & cheese. We were told in the right season there would be fresh Hatch chiles added– so you can be sure we’ll be back for that.
Did we mention that there is a nice selection of liquors and a decent wine list?
We’re hoping the hipsters will overlook this quintessential Austin foodie haven – and maybe not get the authentic Austin vibe– so we can keep it to ourselves because we’re going back!

Really like this place! I went there for the first time last Saturday. My friend and I hosted a mini engagement celebration for another friend. Joe made it super easy to organize and was really easy going. The outdoor area was great for it, especially once the sun went down and the hanging lights were lit. Service was great, brought out appetizers with good timing. Everybody enjoyed the appetizers. I will definitely be back.

I had the best veggie burger ever here. And my omnivore husband enjoyed his meatloaf and veggies. They also have a decent selection of draft beers.

New favorite hole in the wall. Tastes like home cookin’. Just sad I didn’t save room for dessert.

Environment: Mellow restaurant that allows guests to dine in the front or the backyard. I came here on a Friday night for dinner and the colorful lights added to the cute ambiance. My sister and her friend brought their dogs and the owners were enthusiastic to let the dogs run free as we dined in the back.
Overall, a really quiet place that is an actual hole in the wall. The service is awesome and the employees also bring water bowls out for your pups! It’s fine dining in the comfort of a home.
Food: My sister and I ordered two dishes and split them both. We had the opportunity to try the meatloaf and the trout. Both were excellent. I really wasn’t expecting to have such great food on backyard patio furniture, but the trout was seasoned well and very moist. The dish was paired with fresh asparagus and a chill lemony salad. The meatloaf was also excellent. Probably one of the best that I’ve tasted outside of my own home. I wished they gave a little more sauce on top of the meat, but it was great otherwise. It was also paired with crisp green beans and smooth mashed potatoes.
All the food was seasoned perfectly. I liked how the menu wasn’t too large. Joe’s Place knows what they make well and serve it with confidence. A unique location and definitely a must-​try in East Austin.

I love this quirky little place!
When I first pulled up to park I had by doubts, because Joe’s Place is pretty much the epitome of a hole in the wall. The décor inside is eclectic, very Austin. The backyard of Joe’s is a beer garden with lots of room for sitting around or listening to live music. Most of the people in the restaurant were sitting out here.
The service was awesome, our waiter was very friendly and the food came out pretty fast. I ordered the Backlands Turkey Sandwich and my friend ordered the JoeBurger. The Backlands Turkey is full of cranberry sauce, cheese, and mayo. I highly recommend it, especially to anyone who loves thanksgiving. Finally I can have delicious cranberry and turkey more than just one day a year! My friend said the burger was great too. All of the food was very fresh, they even make all of the bread from scratch. Prices for the sandwiches ranged from about $ 8-​$ 10.
Joe’s also has a great selection of local craft beers, many of them brewed right here in Austin. An awesome beer selection is always a plus for any restaurant! Joe’s is a great place to just chill, sit on the patio with a beer, and enjoy some awesome food!

Exactly what a 4 star rating says — Yay! I’m a fan. I went here with a friend for lunch and we were very skeptical when we pulled up. It’s located in this ghetto strip where the parking is the just the dirt and rocks right outside the property. It definitely looks like a hole in the wall on the outside, but once you walk in, you’ll be pleasantly surprised! The interior has a very Austin-​esque feel to it: quaint, slightly quirky, and comfortable.
Now to the food.
Selection
I was thoroughly impressed with the variety of dishes available. Of course they have your normal salads and sandwiches to choose from for a light lunch, but I would really recommend trying one of their special entrees. Also, make sure to look at the chalkboard near the register because there are other daily specials listed.
Taste
Absolutely delicious! My friend got King Ranch Chicken Casserole and it tasted like an enchilada. I got a special from the board called the Fish Sandwich I think? It was really good! Kind of like a fish taco with the cole slaw but in sandwich form. The added jalapeños are a nice touch. I just wish the bread was warm.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this place, especially if you’re looking for a casual lunch place that goes beyond salad and sandwiches.

First time here and I know i’ll be returning often. It’s located on a corner lot in a neighborhood. Independently owned and operated. Front is kinda diner-​ish and beer garden in back is nice. I went on a friday night when they serve during dinner time. They usually are a lunch place but on fri and sat they do serve during dinner time. I got the special of the day, a fried catfish sandwich with creamy tangy cole slaw, side of chips, taco soup with corn, beans, and ground beef (awesome). I got a pint of wheat beer with an ice cold glass to fill.
I’ll be a regular. It’s a good spot for family and friends to gather for a wholesome lunch or dinner.

Had my birthday lunch here. I had the King Ranch Chicken Casserole… it was devine& just like Joe said. «just like the church ladies made»! Others had veggie burger, club salad, salmon… all reported they were delish! The birthday chocolate torte was above and beyond!!! Thanks, Joe!!!

Excellent food and excellent, friendly service. Joe is usually there to serve you with a smile and lots of recommendations. The tiramisu and flan is outstanding. Food is fresh and cooked to order. Really nothing to say negative.

Such a typical Austin place… we weren’t even sure it was open when we pulled up — there wasn’t a car in the parking lot, it looked dark inside, not a customer in sight. Upon being told that they were, in fact, open, we decided to take a chance.
The décor inside is… bizarre. Plastic chairs and Mexican blankets. Shelf liner on the tables as placemats. We were a group of 8, and the waiter informed us that he didn’t have enough menus to go around, LOL.
However…he was able to easily discuss gluten-​free, dairy– free menu options with me. When the salads arrived, they were FRESH. No soggy greens here — they had crisp green lettuce, fresh tomatoes, good cucumbers, olive oil… yum!
Everyone at our table had something different, and everyone loved what they ordered. Entrees were plated nicely, food was hot, and everything tasted great!
Just…typical Austin weird.

MUST READ: DO NOT EAT AT JOES
Let me tell you first off I would give this place negative stars if I could, I went there yesterday and have been throwing up ever since from getting food poisoning from eating the tiny undercooked patty of meat I waited an hour for at joe’s place.
Not only that but during my hour long wait for food with terrible drink service I witnessed the noble owner walk out side and try and start a fight with a early 20s couple for parking in ‘his’ lot and eating at the place across the street. They immediately apologized and tried telling him they mistaked the two places. They explained their situation and promised it would never happen again. He however was screaming threats that I could here as I was smoking a cigarette 30ft away. Threatening to «drag him out of the car, beat his ass, throw him in the road» etc. They tried to leave but joe wouldn’t let them close the door the boyfriend tried and joe Cooke ripped the car door almost right off if the boyfriend still didn’t have a grip on the door. Where is this old mans respect.
Not to mention when I told the waiter the burger was undercooked joe Cooke himself came out and told me to my face that I didn’t know what I was talking about, I wAs only a customer and he was a professional chef (burger flipper). He refused to recook the meat. And the food was way over priced for the meal and service. Do not go there!!!

Jesus NO! Oh my gosh.
I live in this neighborhood and always do my best to support local and locally owned businesses.
If I were able to give negative stars, this would be the place.
We walked in, looking round and looking at the young man behind the counter, who stared back at us. After a moment of really weird silence and no «Hello, how are you?» or «welcome, seat yourselves», I asked the young man if we could just sit wherever we wanted.
He replied «sure» and that was that.
Warm welcome… not
We seat ourselves and wait a moment, then get up to get our own menus (I’m assuming you’re supposed to do that, too), browse them and decide on a brie and fruit plate, 2 burgers and the veggie sandwich for me.
Our brie plate arrives. Welcome to white trash tryin to be all fancy and stuff. It was awkward. Like someone with no real knowledge on presentation or food trying to impress their friends that have come over for cheap beer. «Look what I done saw on the cooking channel, y’all!»
The brie was ok, and the fruit was nice, I will say that. It’s just not something I would expect from someone who owns a catering business.
On to our main course:
Ajhei and Mark got burgers. They didn’t like the bread at all, but said the burgers were ok, however very thin. Both Mark and Ajhei had to take off the top bun to even be able to taste the tiny meat patty The fries, called «spicy fries», were tasty, I was told. However, not good enough to choose this spot over the tasty burgers at Cherrywood Coffeehouse or Casino El Camino. Neither of them ate their buns. I didn’t feel like it was worth the almost $ 9 charged.
My veggie sandwich was listed on the menu as this:
Whole Wheat Focaccia, Arugula Pesto, Muenster, Sprouts, Shredded Carrot, Grilled Portabela, Sliced Cucumber, Avocado
The sandwich I got had a few sprinkles of carrot, no sprouts, the tiniest portabella that tasted like a mud pie, PICKLED cucumbers and a couple of slices of avocado. I hate pickles. I am not a fan of vinegar. I took one bite of this sandwich and put it down. It was awful. Truly disgusting. The fruit «Cup» that came with it was old, refrigerator tasting fruit. No color on the fruit, no real flavor. I ate one piece of it.
I let you know the little amount of food I ate on this plate to add this:
When the waiter came, I told him I didn’t like the sandwich at all, that I don’t like pickles and the menu said cucumbers, not pickled cucumbers. I asked him to please take it away. He disappeared to the back with my plate, where I heard him tell someone I didn’t like the sandwhich. At that point an older gentleman came out from the back, scowled at us, then went back to the kitchen. The young man looked awkwardly back and forth between the man and us, then went back to the counter, texting away.
When we got up to leave, I paid our bill, the plate was included on the bill. Now, here’s where I came to the conclusion that, not only am I never going to return here, I am going to make sure to let everyone else know how absolutely horrible this place is and they do NOT care about the customer.
So, if you go here, and don’t like what you eat, don’t expect a «can I get you something else?» or «I’m so sorry, we’ll take that off the check.» Expect more of a «screw you asshole, give me your money and go» attitude. I have no clue how this place stays open.
See ya never, Joe.

This is a review about my first visit here. I’m totally open to check this place out again though.
I’d read a bunch of reviews on here about how great this place is. We live down the street, so it seemed like a logical place to hang out on a Saturday evening. From the get-​go, we felt like we were inconveniencing our waiter for showing up so early. Unilocal shows them opening at 5 & we showed up around 5:30 & our waiter just seemed scatterbrained because we showed up. Meanwhile, I’m guessing the cook or owner was up on the roof fixing something while our waiter was trying to get his attention to come down cuz he needed to, I don’t know, cook the food?
There were several frustrating things about our first visit.
1.) Our waiter was very unsure about a lot of things on both the food and beer menu. He told us the beer menu hadn’t been updated in 4 months, so he would have to run inside and check what he had. I ended up going with a safe choice just so he wouldn’t have to run back and forth to tell me he didn’t have the beer I wanted.
2.)We ordered a mixed fruit cobbler. It took our waiter roughly 10 – 15 minutes to tell us that the prep cooks didn’t prepare any cobbler for the day. Our server was apologetic, so I’ll give him that. But, that’s something you should know you have or don’t have before you open.
3.)We brought our dogs out to their backyard garden. There wasn’t really a clear entrance to bring em in through, but our waiter helped us out getting em in through an unlit side gate.
4.)Lastly, our server mixed up our final tab twice. First charging me $ 8 for a tea and beer, and then running the wrong tab on my card.
I’d love to give Joe’s Place another chance and am sure I will. I loved the backyard garden. It was such a cool place to chill. But, the experience I had today left a sour taste in my mouth. I want our local eateries here on the East Side to thrive and be known for all things good. Joe, please update your menu and make sure your waitstaff knows what is definitely in stock or not before they get to the table.

Love the food and casual atmosphere here. Everything is cooked from scratch. Sauces and flavor combinations are well thought out. The bulk of their business is catering but the dining and beer garden are not to be missed.
I routinely come here with my in laws for a big family dinner… always a local favorite!

Joe’s was great in many respects. The interior is cozy and the staff super friendly, you couldn’t ask for a better experience in those respects. Additionally, the food was delicious, we had the duck pâté app and I had the meatloaf sandwich.
The only thing holding Joe’s back from 5 stars is the value. For an $ 8 lunch sandwich, the portion should be a bit bigger or the price should be lower. Meatloaf isn’t a pricey dish to create.

Joe’s was a great little surprise. Stopped by for lunch one weekday. Very small interior with just a few tables. Food is fresh and homemade. Nothing frozen or packaged. Very interesting menu. My friend got the breakfast burger, which is a hamburger (looked like fresh meat patty shaped by hand) with bacon and egg on it. She enjoyed it very much. I got the King Ranch Chicken Casserole. Delicious with the just right amount of heat. And the oregano beer bread is to die for. Joe like to talk a bit much about himself, his catering, and his restaurant. But once you get past the intro he’ll leave you to enjoy your meal. I know I’ll be back.

Was leery of popping in anywhere pre-​game last Saturday, this close to campus, but low and behold, we were two of maybe ten folks at Joe’s. This is not a reflection of how awesome their staff/​service or beer garden/​patio is. I just think no one knows about this place!
Joe’s is tucked away off MLK in a concrete building that sort of looks like it might be a convenience store. Don’t be fooled, it’s charming both inside an out. Staff is friendly and includes resident pup Buddy who lounges around in the backyard. (And I mean lounge. I guess he’s only 5 or 6, but acts 80.) Patio is super cute, plenty of room for people, their kids, and their pets… just bring bug spray.
Tried a couple beers here, especially enjoyed the Scottish Stout. Reserving a star until I try something on what looks to be a very tasty menu.

I’ve driven by this spot so many times and always thought «man! I should try that place… but is it open?» As it turns out, they do have random hours sometimes. But they also have darn good food and a cool beer garden.
The inside of the place itself is small, no more than 5 tables, but if we’ve learned anything from BarleySwine it’s that the smaller, the better. People were eating communally as well, which I dig. I ordered the spinach salad and one word came to mind when it arrived: Fresh! Beautiful spinach, walnuts, blue cheese, small tomatoes. It was all the flavors I love with a perfect amount of dressing. I enjoyed their free wifi, a salad and diet coke for about $ 10. And was told to «feel free to work as long as I wanted.» No turn and burn here!
The thing that really strikes me is that this is a family business. The owners were there, chatting amiably. The guy behind the counter was incredibly nice, well spoken, accommodating. It’s clear that he cares about the shop and is like that guy you see in «old movies» behind the soda counter or at the diner. Just really polite and interested. It’s a rare find these days.
Anyway, I’m rambling. The net net: Joes. Just go.
Note: They have something called white trash chicken. Hoagie, white gravy, fried chicken and fries in a heaping sandwich. There’s talk of adding bacon crumbles. I dont know how to feel about it but one thing’s for sure: I’m stealing a bite if anyone dining with me orders it.