Joe's Cafe is your classic American diner. The food comes in substantial portions, the waiters are peppy and knowledgeable, and the service is quick. Prices are reasonable as well. An ideal breakfast/lunch stop for a family with kids.

Predictable. Inexpensive. Comfort food.

Joe's Cafe sits in Old Town Santa Barbara on the corner of State and East Cota streets. The institution has been in Santa Barbara since it opened its doors in 1928 and features an impressive variety of food. I elect to try the Philly Cheese steak sandwich, since one, it's an unwritten rule I made up to try every Philly Cheese steak I come across and two, they're like snowflakes, no two places make them the same. The sandwich comes with fries and I top it off with a light amber ale, Amstel Light.



What arrives in front of me is at first a bit interesting, tempting and odd all at once. For one, Joe's doesn't use the usual Mozzarella/white Cheddar cheese, but instead swaps it for a sharp, golden yellow cheddar. In addition to the customary grilled onions, they add sauteed red peppers and mushrooms. The fries are sprinkled with a generous coating of Parmesan cheese.



The first bite is an overwhelming sensation as the flavors of the sharp cheese, the tender meat and the sweet onions collide. And it's incredibly hot! Not spicy hot, but heat-wise, tongue-scalding hot. Once the cheese cools a bit, the meal is everything I expected it to be; in a word, excellent. The meat blends well with the amber ale, the amber ale blends with the starchy fries and the fries obviously blend with the leftover cheese.



I will definitely be stopping at Joe's in the future!