Joe's Cable Car Restaurant

Good food, way over-priced. A neat place, a DDD restaurant that's got a fun atmosphere and good food. The problem is that two burgers for two people who shared a side of fries and a milkshake--and ordered nothing else, not even soda--should not cost $58 after tax and a moderate tip. While the food is good, it's frustrating to leave what would otherwise have been a decent experience feeling used and ripped off, like Joe cares far less about me and his food and far more about the money he can make off every unsuspecting tourist looking for an interesting meal. Just remember when you get there: *everything* is a la carte. more

I'd read the mixed reviews, but was keen to try it. We made sure we'd worked up an appetite and were not disappointed. Best beef burger I've had in a while. more

I am a huge fan of Triple D, so much so that I have started a Triple D destination wish list of food adventures. Whew...that is a mouthful. After watching the episode featuring Joe's Cable Car I got excited because it was only a short day trip from my home. The burgers looked yummy and the atmosphere fun, so I added it to my list. Pros: Decent Burger Cons: Hugely Overpriced, Lots of extra fees more

Our expectations for a good hamburger and fries dinner were dashed at Joe's. Cons: Where do I Start? more

Truly lived up to Guy's Recommendation. Joe is outgoing and enjoys his patrons. The chefs put on a show with the meat trimming and grinding. No hamburger can match these, truly the best I have ever had. more

The burger was very good, but dont know if it is all that. Small dining area, but service seems to be OK. I saw this on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives so tried it on a visit to the city by the bay. The place is way over priced for a burger, after all it is not made from Prime Rib. Pros: Great Burger Cons: Over Priced more

when my friend's were driving me over to Joe's, I was like, where in BFE are we going? But it was absolutely worth the trip. You can't beat the burgers at Joe's. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun. You can't go wrong if you're craving some meat! Pros: one of the best burgers in town. seriously. Cons: a bit out of the way more

With mixed reviews about this place 'not being local serving,' I did not know what to expect, but, as a foody I do not know how I overlooked this place! The food was GREAT, wait staff was excellent, the place is CLEAN, parking easy (in their own lot right beside the restaurant). I thought the PRICES REASONABLE for what you get. First: THE FOOD, as shown on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives he grinds his own every day with high quality beef. This costs money. Neighbors--get over it. This is NOT a local serving fast-cheap-food-restaurant, it is a destination for the best hamburger. My hamburger was $10.75, fries $3.25. Cheesecake Restaurant (chain) charges $12.00 for their best hamburger. I thought the prices were reasonable for what you get. The fries are as good as In-and-Out-Burger. There is a nice choice of several hamburgers or you can do your own. They are cooked to order as you specify. A nice touch for someone who has educated several cooks as to what ""medium-rare"" means (I send well-done back). Second: PRICES, reasonable for what you get. If you want cheap there at lots of places to go. Third, LOCATION, a bit hard to find. I live an hour away and will happily go again--enough said. If you are going to San Francisco and love hamburgers you should not miss this place. The cable car theme IS San Francisco. Fourth, CLEAN--I think this is the cleanest restaurant I have ever been in. The place was spotless. Staff quickly cleared tables, I saw someone carefully scrub a table with soap and water! Kitchen was spotless and so were bathrooms (I asked my wife). Most restaurants are pig-stys (sp?) compared to this place. I cannot wait to get back. more

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives is a show I watch religiously and I always wished that I could go to some of those restaurants featured. So, I saw that episode on the Food Channel featuring this restaurant and I got excited. I mean, I live about an hour and a half away from San Francisco and I planned a trip to go there just to eat at Joe's with my family. Pros: Cute salt and pepper shakers Cons: Overpriced Overpriced Overpriced Overpriced Overpriced more

I know Guy Fiere did a special about this over rated , over priced, no community giving , rude , no respect for neighbors man. I have had better and paid less . The e-mail Guy Fieri must have received was probably from someone in his family. Oh he looks the part but, he is such a phony and did not deserve that spot on the food Network. He treats his employees like slaves and is constanly yelling. at them .Guy must be running out of places to go. Cons: Way Over Priced more

I was surprised to find that a 4oz burger was $11 and that was without fries! If you want a ""small"" plate of fries, add $2.95, want cheese? add another $1. Burger was okay, nothing special really. I got the vidalia onion burger and thought it was the wrong burger, but they pointed out the onions were in the meat...oh. So, $29 and some change for two small burgers, one small fries (very small order), one soda was sooo not worth it! I would much rather have a delicious burger from Kirk's Burgers! Mmmmm. more

You've gotta go try these fresh ground burgers..they are like nothing else I've tasted!! I love the place so much I'm having my bachlorette dinner there before we head out for our pub crawl. The atmosphere is bright, lively, eclectic and the staff are super helpful and totally down to earth. more

I should have read some of the reviews before I went there. It was definitely overpriced and food was ok. I didn't like the fact that they charge $6 to share a burger. The only reason we went there was because one of my kids saw it on the Food Network and she wanted to try it. My wife and one of my kids are not burger eaters so they just wanted to get a bite from our orders. The waitress was very curtious in explaining the $6.00 sharing policy. I believe this policy makes it an un-family friendly establishment. If I knew before hand I wouldn't have gone there. Now that I'd tried it, I wouldn't go there again. Pros: Parking Lot Cons: Overprice more

I read some of the negative comments made by others and I had to respond! Yeah, it's a little pricey, My girlfriend complains about it. So, OK, here's the deal: I've tried quite a few burger joints around town and this place is head & shoulders above any of the ones I've tried. I'm always treated well, Joe is friendly, generous even. Of course the hired help turns over, so that has to vary. If I'm in The City and I want a good burger, I don't go anywhere else! more

After watching the show of food Network, my boyfriend and I decided to go to joes and try their famous burguers and as soon as I walked in I have to say, no wonder they were on the TV. When we first walked in I noticed the warm and welcoming atmosphere. They serve their burguers in three different sizes and trust me you can really taste the difference. I decided to get a 4oz burguer and my boyfriend went for the 8oz I was surprized of how juicy and tasty the meat was. They have a butcher window where we can walk in and see the meat being grind fresh everyday. Everybody knows that in order to eat well we all have to spend a little more, and if people can't appreciate good food they might as well go to Burguer king or Macdonalds and order a big burguer cooked in the microwave , with tons of fat and pay a couple bucks for it. However if you really want to taste a good burguer made fresh and enjoy a great service,go to Joe's Cable Car you won't be desappointed. I would definatelly come back. more

So, for a while my boyfriend and I had been told to go to Joe's Cable Car. Finally we decided to try it. Cons: service, ambiance, pricing more

when i saw this burger joint, i knew that i had to try... but i wish i never did! extreme prices for a burger, you eat with plastic utensils, service is horrible, and burger itself is just mediocre. Pros: Fresh?? Cons: Service, food, prices, ambience, value, restaurant. more

Despite the mixed reviews we read and against my better judgment, we visited this place anyway. We drove 2/3 of the way across town to try Joe's after seeing it on the Food Network. We finally got there (it's not in a nice part of town) only to find an nearly empty restaurant with an indifferent staff. The cheapest burger on the menu is $10 and it is ala carte (no fries, chips, or anything and if you want cheese, it's another buck). That might be OK in Union Square, but it's simply outrageous in this neighborhood. Pros: No waiting for a table Cons: They don't care about their customers - only money! more

Joe's Cable Car does serve a pretty good burger, but I'm not a big fan of places that server different size patties. They make it seem as if their small pattie is just too small and you should try the bigger size. If Joe grinds his own chuck, shouldn't he pass those savings onto the customer? Pros: Good burger Cons: Way overpriced, plastic plates and utensils more

The BEST burger! They are full of flavor, juicy, never greasy, and made with organic beef! I've been to this place over 1.5 years and they are consistently great. The cost is a bit pricey, but well worth for the quality. One thing I would skip is their fries. I've gone to many burger joints locally that have good ratings, and they are pale in comparison to Joe's Cable Car. I brought my family, friends, and coworkers, and they all return on their own for more. Pros: Easy parking Cons: Not so great neighborhood more