Restaurants

Joe with his Mama

Joe’s of Westlake or Westlake Joe’s as we call it, is an original “old school” Italian-American restaurant. It looks and feels straight out of the movies Goodfellas or Casino. For skiers and those familiar with Frank Sinatra’s connection to Northern California and Lake Tahoe, it is equivalent to a 1950’s Cal Neva experience.

This classic restaurant starts with a darkly lit cocktail lounge with lots of seating, and a few regulars. You walk in further to the main dining room and you are greeted by both a maître d’ and a hostess. Since opening in the 1950s they have had tuxedo clad waiters and waitresses. The cooks behind the long counter seating are all men with the tall white chef’s hat.

The decor is a mix of large paintings on the walls of race horses at the track and local business awards. You’ll love the huge bank of windows which keeps the place bright and with the many booths, a place to have a long leisurely brunch, lunch or dinner.

Joe's Special

Joe’s of Westlake offers my husband’s favorite brunch dish Joe’s Special, scrambled eggs mixed with ground beef and spinach (mushrooms are optional). Other cafes have this on their menu but this place really knows how to cook it just right. Deelish.

If you want to relive some of the 1950s nostalgia you can rent out the back room for your own Goodfellas posse. We are planning to return for a weekend dinner here when they have live music in the lounge.

Located in Daly City just south of San Francisco, Joe’s of Westlake is a wonderful destination for date night, taking your grandmother out for lunch or dinner with the entire family.

Classic Italian American Restaurant

11 Glenwood Ave
Daly City, CA 94015
(650) 755-7400

Fri-Sat 11:00am-12:00am
Sun-Thu 11:00am-11:00pm

Photo credits to sfcphotography

Lou & Mickey's is a Best Steakhouse in the Gaslamp Quarter

Lou & Mickey’s Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge is one of the Top 10 steakhouses in The Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego. The Gaslamp Association awarded it with both “Best Wine List” and “Best Service in a Restaurant,” and San Diego Magazine also named it as the area’s “Best American Restaurant.” This is, clearly, a restaurant worth trying out.

Right across from the San Diego Convention Center, Lou & Mickey’s gets a lot of business travelers looking to unwind. You’ll see them with their loosened ties and stiff drinks, maybe watching ESPN on game nights. The ambience is exactly what makes American steakhouses fun; a little loud, a lot friendly, and very relaxed. I was impressed by the top-notch service as well as the salad and rib-eye I ordered here; the staff had to deal with a couple of groups near us, and did so with aplomb. My date had the surf and turf: This meant Alaskan king crab legs and a nice piece of filet mignon. It must’ve been great – I’m assuming this because it disappeared before I had a chance to taste it myself. The best restaurant dinners have a way of

Great Surf and Turf in San Diego

doing that.

We ate inside, and I recommend this. Lou & Mickey’s is one of the best steakhouses in San Diego, but it’s also right across from a railroad crossing. I overheard someone complaining about the train noise. However, it’s hard to imagine the noise being that distracting; the boisterous atmosphere – at least when a game’s on television – is already not for someone seeking a quiet night out. Lou & Mickey’s Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge is unpretentious, fun and relaxed, which along with a great menu, is exactly what how an American restaurant in Southern California should be. No wonder it’s one of the best steakhouses in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.