What Willie Wants

‘Old San Francisco’ Is Dining at Original Joe’s In Droves

The new Original Joe's.
The new Original Joe’s. Photo: Joey DeRuy/Grub Street

Having only moved to S.F. a decade ago, we perhaps didn’t understand the love there was for the age-old Original Joe’s in the Tenderloin. Now that we hear they’re doing 700 to 800 covers a day, mostly from old fans, it’s clear that love was never lost. Willie Brown chimes in on the crowds at the revamped, relocated restaurant today, observing with pleasure that “The patrons are about 75 percent [native] San Franciscans, so finally people from USF and St. Ignatius have someplace to eat.” Also: “When I looked at the crowd it was old San Francisco; it was Carl Nolte’s readers.” [Willie Brown/Inside Scoop, Earlier slideshow]

‘Old San Francisco’ Is Dining at Original Joe’s In Droves