Original Joe's Restaurant & Bar Calgary
• 2118 4 Street SW | Calgary, AB | T2S 1W7
Average User Rating:
7.82/10
7.82/10
Recommended by:
82%
82%
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"Avenida Location"
Denny
April 2012 — "On a Saturday afternoon we headed to the Avenida Original Joe's for lunch. The patio was pretty busy but I wanted to sit inside. A lot of the tables were unbussed which meant to me that they were really busy that day or understaffed. We managed to find one that was clean. It took about 10 minutes until a server came to take our drink order. We were about to get up and leave and go somewhere else. I'm not sure why the service was so slow because there were not that many tables inside and they had three girls working and a couple bartenders. I decided to get the club sandwich with caesar salad and fries and dill dip. It was pretty good. My wife had the Cobb salad, which she seemed to enjoy. The restaurant itself is pretty nice, but the fact that the service was so slow was a deterrent. Too bad, since it is so close to home, but it definitely won't be my first choice with the many other restaurants found in the area."
User Rating
6/10
6/10
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"Good atmosphere"
Martha
January 2012 — "I often go to Original Joe's on Stephen Avenue as it's close to my office so we head here for lunch of after-work drinks. The location on Stephen Avenue is fairly small and long so it's a good idea to make a reservation as it usually gets busy at lunch and in the evening.
The food here is fairly generic -- there's the usual assortment of sandwiches, burgers etc. Nothing has ever really stood out to me as really flavourful or unique, but none of it's been particularly bad either. A friend who I always go with who can't eat gluten appreciates that they have a "gluten friendly options" menu available online, but it's not particularly original as they just suggest getting a burger without the bun (in other words, they don't actually offer any gluten-free pasta or bread.)
The service is usually quite prompt, but the waitresses aren't overly friendly. All in all, a decent place for a few pints. "
User Rating
6.83/10
6.83/10
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"Always a good bet! "
Lindsay
January 2012 — "Original Joes is a great place to grab a beer or some food! The prices are fair and the service is good. One of my favorite things about it is that if you order a burger or a sandwich etc., you get to choose 2 different sides to go with your meal! I went to the location in Kensington and loved the low lit atmosphere as soon as I walked in! The service was great and we really enjoyed the food. I ordered a beer with a side of clamato, and was disappointed as the clamato was carbonated. It kind of ruined my beer. I ordered the cobb salad which was mixed greens with turkey breast, bacon, avocado, cheese and a bunch of other things with a delicious balsamic blue cheese dressing. The portion was good and all the ingredients were super fresh. I would love to try some of their other salads as I had a hard time choosing! I wanted to have dessert, but with only three selections, I didn’t really see anything I wanted. "
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"OJ's Kensington"
Jenny
December 2011 — "I recently went to Original Joe's in Kensington with my boyfriend. I had never been to this location before, and found the decor much like the others - a typical pub feel. It was a Thursday night and very busy. They have a special on Thursdays for half price bottles of wine, which I'm keen to try sometime but since my boyfriend doesn't drink wine I only ordered a glass for a dollar off. I hadn't been overly impressed with the food at other Original Joe's locations and always found the portions to be too large so decided to try something totally different. I asked our server, who was very friendly, about the fish tacos and at her recommendation that is what I ordered. We decided to make use of the pool table while we waited for our food and even as we played pool our server kept checking to see if we needed anything. The fish tacos were very tasty, and I will probably stick with ordering them in the future. I really enjoyed this location and will certainly be back."
User Rating
8.50/10
8.50/10
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"Marda loop location trumps Stephen Ave"Ashley
October 2011 — "Having had a less than favourable experience at the Original Joe's on Stephen Avenue I was less than excited to meet my girlfriends at the Marda Loop location for dinner. Suprisingly the Marda Loop location had a completely different atmosphere for me -- open, inviting and a good crowd. Our server was really nice, it can be a lot of work to serve a table of loud women catching up on a Saturday night but she handled it awesomely. I was also pleased that she didn't seem to hold a grudge like some servers do when you only order water, she made sure my glass was always full and was never anything but pleasant. To my surprise as well, the food was awesome! I ordered the Kansas City ribs with yam fries and a green salad and not only were my taste buds in heaven but my stomach was full! I liked that at this location my yam fries were nearly perfect and had dill sprinkled on them, gave my fries a new flavour which was quite nice. Our server was also great in providing us with ample napkins and wet naps to accomodate for the messy food. All in all, $20 for a great meal, lovely company and good service is a deal to me! "
User Rating
9/10
9/10
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"Good Location, Good Food"Jenny
July 2011 — "Last month I had dinner with a friend at Original Joe's on 4th Street. The location is convenient to downtown and the restaurant was large and spread out. The decor is similar to many pubs, lots of wood everywhere. The server promptly came and took my drink order when I arrived and brought me a nice cold beer. I find the menu at OJ's a bit overwhelming but I finally settled on the pulled pork sandwich with the mango pasta salad and sweet potato fries. The food came quickly. My sandwich was very flavorful, the pork was tender and juicy. The mango pasta salad is always a nice side and I particularly liked the sweet potato fries. My only significant criticism is that the portion sizes are enormous. I think they need to follow the trend of reducing portion sizes because I could only eat about half of my meal and I despise wasting food. Unfortunately, a meal like that doesn't keep so it went to waste. I prefer a smaller portion and if I'm still hungry I can order something else. All in all my experience at this Original Joe's location was positive."
User Rating
8.67/10
8.67/10
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"Not bad at all!"
Mary
July 2011 — "The Original Joe's location we visited today was fairly decent. It is located in the heart of Kensington, Calgary. This area is known for boutique style shops and unique cafes/bakeries and decent restaurants. I really enjoyed the service provided by the staff team here. The bartender was very energetic and he was the first to greet us at the door. We sat down anywhere we liked because it was that flexible. The patio had already been filled with other guests at lunch time. We sat down in the back section of the restaurant that we anticipated to be darker. You would be surprised the amount of natural light that shines through the big uncovered windows. They did not need to turn on any indoor lighting to lighten the place. It was a nice atmosphere. They had a pool table, a video game and an ATM machine (very thoughtful!) Our server was super nice. She never stopped smiling at us. I like how she kept eye contact with us at all times. It was a very nice gesture and we felt respected as individuals and as valued guests. Their food was fair. It wasn't the best but it could do for a weekend lunch. The type of food served here is similar to trendy pub food. Their serving size was BIG though. I found myself packing the whole half of my plate. It was good. Food should not be wasted. I always pack left overs home. My partner and I enjoyed our lunch here and also went on to enjoy a nice walk in the neighborhood. "
User Rating
8.83/10
8.83/10
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"Great Beer Selection"Debbie
June 2011 — "We have been wanting to try Original Joe's for a while, and finally had a night without the kids so we could go in (no minors are permitted). While I am not a beer drinker, the description of the "Dr. Pepper" drink had me tempted. A combination of beer, amaretto and coke, this was a tasty drink to accompany my dinner. Their other combinations looked very intriguing as well and I will be going back to try more. After much deciding, I ordered the Jambalya. It was a large portion and came steaming from the kitchen with a bit of ooey, gooey parmesan melting on top (I think everything should be eaten this way). There was plenty of chicken, sausage and shrimp and the Orzo pasta was a wonderful change from just plain old rice. My husband had the Pulled Pork Sandwich, which he said was very good and he appreciated that there was not so much sauce on it that it made a mess. Being that there were about 15 other things on their menu that I MUST try, we will be going back!"
User Rating
8.67/10
8.67/10
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"First and last time"Ashley
April 2011 — "Generally I love going to Original Joes on 4th Street (near home) for their community pints. This visit I decided to grab a bite to eat at the OJs on Stephen Ave with my coworker over our lunch hour. Not only did the waitress take us to the very back, somewhat dingy part of the practically empty restaurant, but she seemed to have an unpleasant attitude. We brushed this off and anticipated having some delicious eats. Unfortunately for both my coworker and myself our envisioned delicious burgers were short of delicious. I ended up eating just the patty and toppings as the bun was quite greasy, which not only made my hands greasy but contributed poorly to the taste of the burger. My side salad was okay although it lacked flavour and my yam fries were surprisingly exceptional. Too bad I don't think yam fries are worth the cost of a burger and I had to pay to "upgrade" to them anyway!"
User Rating
5.67/10
5.67/10
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"Great Menu"Lauren
December 2010 — "I've been to a few of the OJ's in Calgary a few years ago and recently went to the one located in Avenida in the south. They've got a decent-sized patio that is nice in the summer although the view of McLeod Trail isn't particularly exciting. The inside is huge and on my last visit wasn't very busy. However the interior is nice with lots of dark wood and plenty of TVs.
We watched the Sunday afternoon football while we were there and they had some good drink specials (Ceasars and Big Rock I believe). The drinks were very good and they had a good selection of beer and wines.
Our server was very nice and quick to take our order and bring drinks. The menu at the pub is great with lots of choices including burgers (veggie burgers too), pasta and lots of starters. With any of the burgers and entrees, visitors get a choice of 2 sides which can include fries, sweet potato fries and a few different salads. On my last visit I got the veggie burger with fries and a Caesar salad and everything was delicious. "
User Rating
7.83/10
7.83/10
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"Good for Lunch"
Jenny
September 2010 — "I recently went to Original Joe's at 130th Avenue SE for lunch with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. We picked OJ's because it is usually not too busy so it would be easy to chat and the food is consistently good.
As expected, it was very slow in there on a Saturday at lunch and we took a seat at a table by the window, because one complaint I do have about this particular OJ's location is how dark it is inside. It was a beautiful sunny fall day and I felt a bit like I'd walked into a dungeon.
Our server was with us fairly promptly and we ordered soft drinks and I opted for the Cajun Chicken Caesar Wrap with sweet potato fries and the mango pasta salad. The wrap was fresh and my only complaint about it was they overdid it a bit on the bacon bits (I love bacon, but something about bacon bits doesn't do it for me, particularly when the taste like they've come out of a jar). The mango pasta salad is one of my favourite sides there even though I'm not fond of dill, that salad always tastes great.
All in all, I find it a fairly good spot for lunch, especially if you want to have a quality chat somewhere that isn't overcrowded or too loud. The food is consistent and the service is average."
User Rating
7/10
7/10
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"Always a Winner"mary
September 2010 — "Since it was introduced to Calgarians, I've enjoyed Original Joe's. This time I hit the Marda Loop restaurant where I sometimes go with colleagues for a drink and chat. It has a dark, pubby feel, with pool tables and televisions turned down so they don't compete with the piped in music. Sometimes it gets a bit loud to talk but usually the management will turn the music down a little bit if asked. The patio is great on a sunny day, although it sits next to a 4-way stop so it can get pretty noisy in the summer when the cars and motorcycles gear down and rev up every few seconds. This place use to have live music but they stopped - everyone I know is sad about this as it was a fun place to go and hear good, local talent.
I often have a salad and this time I went for the Thai Chicken for $11.99. It's a tasty mixture of romaine and rice vermicelli and flavorful thai dressing - I think they make the dressing but I'm not sure. Topped with grilled chicken, red onions, mandarin oranges and pea shoots, this is one robust salad. The cashews are good and crunchy with a sprinkling of cilantro to complete the taste sensation. I really enjoy this salad and I've never been disappointed. They offer a half salad for those who are popping for lunch or aren't as hungry. I've always found the service to be great. One thing - more attention to maintaining washrooms would be worthwhile - it is never horrible, but never really clean either. It is slightly disturbing when the place serves food - just a thought.
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User Rating
8.33/10
8.33/10
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"Fantastic Sides Options"Tanya
July 2009 — "While recently in Calgary for a visit, I had a long late afternoon lunch at Original Joes on 4th Street. We sat outside on the tiny patio as we were making the most of the sun while it was there. They have a good selection of beers on tap here and the service is friendly and generally quick.
I had the Smoked Turkey Club Wrap without bacon and it was quite tasty. I have to say though, the best thing about ordering a burger or sandwich at Original Joe's is that you get the choice of 2 side dishes to go along with your meal. I would highly suggest getting the mango pasta salad as one of your sides because, although it could use more mango, it is one of the best tasting summer salads around. I also went with the garlic mashed potatoes which are another of my favorite things. Just the right amount of garlic and they leave some potato skin in there for good texture. If you are looking for a relaxed lunch or dinner location, stop by Original Joe's and order a sandwich (and the sides!)."
User Rating
8.50/10
8.50/10
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"Good Pub Food!"Denny
April 2009 — "After driving aimlessly around the NW in search of a place to eat, we happened upon Original Joe's across from Northland Mall in a strip mall. It used to be Forbes or something like that, but it is now an Original Joe's that was pretty busy on this particular Friday night.
We started with the spinach dip, which was very good. We polished that off in mere minutes. It was served with tortilla chips. My wife and I decided to split two entrees, the Spanako pizza with chicken and the chicken quesadilla. The pizza was loaded with toppings like feta, tomatoes, olives and spinach and was on a thin crust. It was pretty good. The quesadilla was ok, the chicken was a little on the dry side. It was served with a garden salad. The beer was very good and the service was awesome.
This location is pretty far from our home, so even though we enjoyed ourselves, we will likely not frequent this location, but it was an enjoyable experience overall. The only complaint came from my wife who said one of the toilets in the bathroom was out of order and quite the eyesore since it was right when you walked in and it was not marked as out of order. I'm glad it wasn't in the men's bathroom and I didn't have to experience that!
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User Rating
7/10
7/10
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"A Busy Pub!"
Zachary
January 2009 — "On a Friday night around midnight, my girlfriend got off work and I went down to Original Joe's in Kensington to meet up with her and her friends. The place was packed, but we easily got a table put together for 10 people. The server came up very quickly to take our drink orders and we were pleased to find that the kitchen was open until 1am, so we could order some food. I decided to get some hot wings to start and then have a Chef's Salad. The wings were actually really undesirable... they had hardly any flavour and they were quite fatty - which was disappointing. The Chef's salad was pretty good, as it had boiled eggs, turkey, ham, cheddar cheese etc. on it.
Everyone enjoyed their beverages and the atmosphere was quite fun. We stayed until the place closed and will definitely be back to this location again, we just might not order wings this time!
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User Rating
7.67/10
7.67/10
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"Great neighbourhood dining"
Pamela
December 2008 — "We decided to have an early dinner at Original Joe's and were very pleased with the meal and the service there.
I ordered the club chicken wrap and it was a huge serving of food. The meal came with two sides and I chose the fresh vegetables with ranch dipping sauce and the honey cole slaw. I thought the fresh vegetables were a nice touch and it was a generous serve of cucumber and carrots to snack on. My friends ordered the hot dogs off the menu. The plate came with two large grilled hot dogs on a bun and once again the choice of two side dishes. They both ordered the fries with gravy and they were some of the best fries I've ever tasted - real home style not frozen. Once again the servings were large and we all ended up taking part of our meals home with us.
This restaurant has a good selection of food on the menu. They have daily specials for drinks and offer a good selection of imported beer.The prices were good too.
The decor was nice and cozy and I imagine the patio is popular during the summer months."
User Rating
9.17/10
9.17/10
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"Big Portions"Elizabeth
December 2008 — "I went to the Original Joe's at Northland and had quite a good lunch. I ordered the Joe's Double Dog, which consisted of a bun filled with two charbroiled wieners, fried onions and a nice mustard sauce. You also got your choice of two sides. I got fries and gravy and a caesar salad. It was really good and huge! I could only finish half of it and ended up bringing the rest home for leftovers. So if you are after a big meal, I recommend Original Joe's. "
User Rating
7/10
7/10
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"Good Meeting Spot"Carrie
July 2007 — "I recently met some friends at the Kensington location of Original Joe's. It was very busy but we managed to get a seat on the Patio on a Friday night. Cold beer, good nachos and hot wings and a great location. What more could you ask for!"
User Rating
8/10
8/10
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DescriptionOriginal Joe's Restaurant & Bar offers a pub-style atmosphere and a menu filled with appetizers, sandwiches, burgers and much more. The bar also offers a wide range of beers on tap.
Location Information2118 4 Street SW
Calgary
AB
T2S 1W7
