JOE AND STAN'S IS THE PLACE TO BE. First of all, you might think this is a dive bar with sketchy food. Not the case at all! I have yet to be disappointed with a meal here. The broasted chicken is the best in town and a full meal is around $8. But they also have great burgers, tacos (the size of your face for $5) and the prime rib special for $10 on Fridays. A group of friends and I have started going to bingo on Fridays and it's so fun. Small enough so you have a good chance of winning but big enough to win good money. The staff could not be nicer and I love how welcoming they are. Tip: skip Shamrocks, Skinners or The Spot and come here!
(5)
Matt R.
Blue collar fun on Friday night. They've got a meat raffle, bar bingo, and some of the cheapest food specials ever. If you can handle it, check it out with some friends. It would be an awesome spot on a West 7th pub crawl. No cards accepted, cash only for this joint.
(3)
Christina G.
These guys have the BEST $5 food specials I have ever had. Anywhere. Ever! And completely filling. Everyday of the week!
(5)
Lorraine N.
My beloved Joe and Stan's is still deserving of five full stars. They recently got a little face lift on the front of the building and I was worried that they may have lost some of the charm of the bar--but it is still in tact and just as comfortable as before. The same staff are working so it feels right. I just wanted to mention the broasted chicken they have every night of the week...absolutely delicious---I was there on a Friday night and almost ordered the 10.00 prime rib dinner---that is correct 10.00 for a big ass Fred Flinstone sized piece of prime rib--two guys were eating it next to me and it looked delicious--so i will go back for that next time.
(5)
James H.
I frequent this place with co-workers late in the evening, because there is usually nobody there. It's nice to not be around crowds after work. The bartenders always seem angry. My co-workers and I are in the service industry, and we are low maintenance patrons who tip well. I don't know who does the hiring, but I am certain that they would be disappointed to see what sort of "service" is given after 10pm most nights.
(1)
Dan S.
It's time for an update. My prior review were from when I used to work at the brewery across the street and that was over 10 years ago. I've been back 3-4 times now in the past couple of months and it is much much nicer now. Still what I would call a dive bar, but not a place anyone should feel unsafe. Great tacos, Heggie's pizza, cheap beer. It gets pretty busy on wednesday night with Bargo. It has been remodeled and looks much nicer. The staff and patrons are all very friendly and welcoming, even to those who aren't regulars.
(4)
Vanessa B.
Holy crap, this place ROCKS! While back in town for a few days, I went out with a good friend of mine from high school. We were enjoying good conversation and some fruity cocktails when I mentioned my love of karaoke. The bartender suggested Joe & Stan's as the closest option, but warned that we might not fit in. His actual words were, "You might hear the sound of a record scratching when you walk in". I was up for it, my friend was game, so off we headed. As we pull up, I say, "Hey look, they have hookers!", and sure enough, there were two girls in pink tights, short skirts and ratted hair being groped by the front door. We forged our way through the miasma of cigarette smoke and entered the mad Wonderland that is Joe & Stan's. The massive sign on the wall advertising a nightly "meat raffle" was the first checkmark on the list of requirements for a surreal night out. (This appears to be some sort of Midwestern thing, don't ask) The Hell's Angels crowding the bar, 8 natural teeth between them was the second. One of the patrons was a dead ringer for 'Sloth' Fratelli from The Goonies. At one point, the middle-aged DJ pulled up her miniskirt to show a friend her new ass tattoo. It was lovely. The crowd is crude, loud and obnoxious (but very welcoming), the karaoke sucks, the drinks were cheap & toxic and I wouldn't eat here if you paid me, but for pure, unadulterated people-watching, there is no place better than Joe & Stan's. Cheers!
(5)
Kimi H.
I've been wanting to go to Joe & Stan's for a while now. I live in the neighborhood, and have always preferred unpretentious dive bars over "fancy" places. Throw in karaoke and I'm happy as a drunken clam (ooh! Unintentional Family Guy reference). I have yet to experience the night life at Joe & Stan's, but I did pop over for breakfast this morning, and it was good. Really, really good. My eggs were perfectly done (I'm terribly picky about my eggs). The hash browns tasted homemade. The sausages were piping hot - crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside (and tremendously greasy, to boot), and my husband said his omelet was the best he's ever had. EVER. The service was fast and friendly, and the prices - my goodness, the prices! - were more than reasonable. All told, the tab for two meals and two Cokes came to - I'm not shitting you--$13.50. We will definitely return to this establishment, if not to get wasted and sing terrible karaoke, then to eat good, cheap, greasy breakfast food, and support an honest neighborhood business. As for the claim that only lowlifes populate this bar, c'mon. "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." ~Oscar Wilde
(5)
Erica B.
This place is a shit hole, plain and simple. It is the typical local-type bar. They have karaoke, a small bar, and some disgruntled staff. The seating was inadequate. If I wanted to smell swamp ass coming from the restrooms, well, I would have gone to a swamp.
(1)
Melissa B.
one word... TRASH.
(1)
Lisa M.
Nice remodel, but the attitude.... So, we checked out Joe and Stan's over the weekend. None of us had been there lately and I'd heard they remodeled. The place itself was remodeled, but the dude at the bar who yelled at us should remodel his attitude. We walk in and unbeknownest to my friend, the door didn't close all the way behind her. We hear, "Hey! It's cold out! Shut the door will ya?" Eeeek. The 3 of us sat at a booth and ordered some beers and a couple of snacks - buffalo drummies, fries, 2 tacos, and the nachos. The non door closer loved her tacos. They were on special for $2.50 each and huge. Other friend loved her drummies. The order was huge and she couldn't finish. I tried the fries - nothing special. The nachos were nothing I would recommend. Seriously - it was about 20 tortilla chips with Kraft cheese melted on top from the microwave. I've made better at home. For the food and 2 beers each, we spent about $42 after tip. Not too bad. We left just as karaoke was starting, but it seems they have a real karaoke following. I will go back, but shut the door behind me or wait until spring.
(3)
Dan S.
For years I've liked this place for the low priced drinks, especially during happy hour. Lately, I've begun sampling the food. Wish I'd started earlier. Last night (Monday) was rib night...only $7.99 for an overly filling meal. I'm going back next Monday to see if I was just lucky. In my 63 years I have never had better ribs (maybe a couple of ties)...a large amount of tender meat with just the right amount of mild sauce. I'm crossing my fingers that this was no fluke.
(5)
Kimberly F.
Friday Night Bingo is a blast! Great dive bar with tasty food!
(4)
Jim H.
Lots of old posts here. May be time to take another look. I stopped here for lunch today and had about the best burger I've ever tasted! -for only $4- The place has been spruced up, redecorated, clean throughout, decent service and the locals were very friendly. 13 big screen TVs for sports or... I liked it!
(4)
Joshua W.
Giving them 4 stars for the food, 2 stars for the service. Swear to god the old guy tending bar forgot his hearing aids. Girlfriend ordered a Summit Maibock and I ordered a Finnegans Amber. I received a Maibock and she received a Leinies Honeyweiss.... The waitress wasn't what I'd call pleasant but not uncongenial either. The tacos were phenomenal and a great price only $5. We each had 2 beers...I ended up drinking the Leinies for free from the screw up, and our total bill for food and 4 beers only $25. My girlfriend thoroughly enjoyed her pepperjack burger and the tator tots were great too. I'd come back here again for dinner any day, but don't expect phenomenal service. It is definitely a dive.
(3)
Danielle G.
Place wasn't busy when we arrived. Bar tender was friendly and told us that if it was our first time there, its better in the evenings. We decided to check out their menu and ordered 2 pc. Broaster Chicken that came with jo-jo and cole slaw. Hubs order burger with pepper jack cheese and jalepenos with tater tots. First thing I noticed was the container for the slaw was half full. Its a really small container that I thought... filling this up would give a better impression. The chicken was greasy and so were the jo-jo's. The didn't have much flavor...just a potatoe wedge with sour cream to add. Burger was okay too. A better bun would have made a big difference. Hubs said burger was fine. Beer was cold and selection is typical of what you'd expect. Appreciate the old school ambiance of the place... its been around for years and I respect that. Bartender did mention that next week they are coming into the 21 century and getting computerized cash registers which means they will take debit/card cards. Will give this place another shot... in the evening.
(3)
Valerie H.
Some of the other reviews of this place confuse me. You really didn't expect Joe and Stan's to be a classy establishment, did you? It's a dive bar that doesn't claim to be anything but. Some coworkers and I came here after work last night (after a disappointing visit to Burger Moes) to partake in cheap drinks and karaoke. Both delivered, though I didn't get the right change for one of my drinks. They were out of popcorn in the popcorn machine, but brought out microwaved popcorn for us. I must have looked pretty sad when I noticed the empty machine. Aside from being freezing, the bathroom really wasn't that bad, and we didn't have any problem with the staff. I can't say I will put Joe and Stan's on my go-to list, but I'd partake in karaoke again if I have enough to drink. I really belted out Celine Dion...or so I thought.
(3)
Dima M.
I don't know why anyone would come to this place and have high expectations. It's a typical local bar, with all the basics, and karaoke. Granted, karaoke is best performed and observed when drunk, but hey, here's a bar with drinks that can do just that. No one ever advertised this bar as St. Paul's finest hot spot, but if you're looking for a good time with friends and you can tolerate someone completely butchering a song in the background, this is just the place. Would I eat here? Probably not. Would I go out of my way to go here? Probably not. But would I come if my friends decided to get together here and grab my beer and enjoy my time? I most definitely would!
(3)
Juliann M.
We returned to Joe and Stans after being away for years. Always loved the burgers and tacos (like my German mom made, not so "authentic"). It was Friday night and the special was prime rib for $10 so I had to try it, but husband had to have the cheeseburger. Both were fantastic. Great value and still actual real, fresh, cooked in THEIR kitchen---not just heated from frozen or packages---BEEF. The best part was playing bar bingo and the meat raffle while we waited for the food. Who doesn't find it a claim of distinction when going out for dinner and returning home with a prize of a big hunk of frozen meat? The people watching, 50s music, sports on tv's everywhere, and extreme happy friendly-ness must be experienced to understand how much fun you can have and still not break $50 for a night out at the bar with dinner! We won't wait 5 years to return next time.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Street Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Caters : No
Robyn C.
JOE AND STAN'S IS THE PLACE TO BE. First of all, you might think this is a dive bar with sketchy food. Not the case at all! I have yet to be disappointed with a meal here. The broasted chicken is the best in town and a full meal is around $8. But they also have great burgers, tacos (the size of your face for $5) and the prime rib special for $10 on Fridays. A group of friends and I have started going to bingo on Fridays and it's so fun. Small enough so you have a good chance of winning but big enough to win good money. The staff could not be nicer and I love how welcoming they are. Tip: skip Shamrocks, Skinners or The Spot and come here!
(5)Matt R.
Blue collar fun on Friday night. They've got a meat raffle, bar bingo, and some of the cheapest food specials ever. If you can handle it, check it out with some friends. It would be an awesome spot on a West 7th pub crawl. No cards accepted, cash only for this joint.
(3)Christina G.
These guys have the BEST $5 food specials I have ever had. Anywhere. Ever! And completely filling. Everyday of the week!
(5)Lorraine N.
My beloved Joe and Stan's is still deserving of five full stars. They recently got a little face lift on the front of the building and I was worried that they may have lost some of the charm of the bar--but it is still in tact and just as comfortable as before. The same staff are working so it feels right. I just wanted to mention the broasted chicken they have every night of the week...absolutely delicious---I was there on a Friday night and almost ordered the 10.00 prime rib dinner---that is correct 10.00 for a big ass Fred Flinstone sized piece of prime rib--two guys were eating it next to me and it looked delicious--so i will go back for that next time.
(5)James H.
I frequent this place with co-workers late in the evening, because there is usually nobody there. It's nice to not be around crowds after work. The bartenders always seem angry. My co-workers and I are in the service industry, and we are low maintenance patrons who tip well. I don't know who does the hiring, but I am certain that they would be disappointed to see what sort of "service" is given after 10pm most nights.
(1)Dan S.
It's time for an update. My prior review were from when I used to work at the brewery across the street and that was over 10 years ago. I've been back 3-4 times now in the past couple of months and it is much much nicer now. Still what I would call a dive bar, but not a place anyone should feel unsafe. Great tacos, Heggie's pizza, cheap beer. It gets pretty busy on wednesday night with Bargo. It has been remodeled and looks much nicer. The staff and patrons are all very friendly and welcoming, even to those who aren't regulars.
(4)Vanessa B.
Holy crap, this place ROCKS! While back in town for a few days, I went out with a good friend of mine from high school. We were enjoying good conversation and some fruity cocktails when I mentioned my love of karaoke. The bartender suggested Joe & Stan's as the closest option, but warned that we might not fit in. His actual words were, "You might hear the sound of a record scratching when you walk in". I was up for it, my friend was game, so off we headed. As we pull up, I say, "Hey look, they have hookers!", and sure enough, there were two girls in pink tights, short skirts and ratted hair being groped by the front door. We forged our way through the miasma of cigarette smoke and entered the mad Wonderland that is Joe & Stan's. The massive sign on the wall advertising a nightly "meat raffle" was the first checkmark on the list of requirements for a surreal night out. (This appears to be some sort of Midwestern thing, don't ask) The Hell's Angels crowding the bar, 8 natural teeth between them was the second. One of the patrons was a dead ringer for 'Sloth' Fratelli from The Goonies. At one point, the middle-aged DJ pulled up her miniskirt to show a friend her new ass tattoo. It was lovely. The crowd is crude, loud and obnoxious (but very welcoming), the karaoke sucks, the drinks were cheap & toxic and I wouldn't eat here if you paid me, but for pure, unadulterated people-watching, there is no place better than Joe & Stan's. Cheers!
(5)Kimi H.
I've been wanting to go to Joe & Stan's for a while now. I live in the neighborhood, and have always preferred unpretentious dive bars over "fancy" places. Throw in karaoke and I'm happy as a drunken clam (ooh! Unintentional Family Guy reference). I have yet to experience the night life at Joe & Stan's, but I did pop over for breakfast this morning, and it was good. Really, really good. My eggs were perfectly done (I'm terribly picky about my eggs). The hash browns tasted homemade. The sausages were piping hot - crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside (and tremendously greasy, to boot), and my husband said his omelet was the best he's ever had. EVER. The service was fast and friendly, and the prices - my goodness, the prices! - were more than reasonable. All told, the tab for two meals and two Cokes came to - I'm not shitting you--$13.50. We will definitely return to this establishment, if not to get wasted and sing terrible karaoke, then to eat good, cheap, greasy breakfast food, and support an honest neighborhood business. As for the claim that only lowlifes populate this bar, c'mon. "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." ~Oscar Wilde
(5)Erica B.
This place is a shit hole, plain and simple. It is the typical local-type bar. They have karaoke, a small bar, and some disgruntled staff. The seating was inadequate. If I wanted to smell swamp ass coming from the restrooms, well, I would have gone to a swamp.
(1)Melissa B.
one word... TRASH.
(1)Lisa M.
Nice remodel, but the attitude.... So, we checked out Joe and Stan's over the weekend. None of us had been there lately and I'd heard they remodeled. The place itself was remodeled, but the dude at the bar who yelled at us should remodel his attitude. We walk in and unbeknownest to my friend, the door didn't close all the way behind her. We hear, "Hey! It's cold out! Shut the door will ya?" Eeeek. The 3 of us sat at a booth and ordered some beers and a couple of snacks - buffalo drummies, fries, 2 tacos, and the nachos. The non door closer loved her tacos. They were on special for $2.50 each and huge. Other friend loved her drummies. The order was huge and she couldn't finish. I tried the fries - nothing special. The nachos were nothing I would recommend. Seriously - it was about 20 tortilla chips with Kraft cheese melted on top from the microwave. I've made better at home. For the food and 2 beers each, we spent about $42 after tip. Not too bad. We left just as karaoke was starting, but it seems they have a real karaoke following. I will go back, but shut the door behind me or wait until spring.
(3)Dan S.
For years I've liked this place for the low priced drinks, especially during happy hour. Lately, I've begun sampling the food. Wish I'd started earlier. Last night (Monday) was rib night...only $7.99 for an overly filling meal. I'm going back next Monday to see if I was just lucky. In my 63 years I have never had better ribs (maybe a couple of ties)...a large amount of tender meat with just the right amount of mild sauce. I'm crossing my fingers that this was no fluke.
(5)Kimberly F.
Friday Night Bingo is a blast! Great dive bar with tasty food!
(4)Jim H.
Lots of old posts here. May be time to take another look. I stopped here for lunch today and had about the best burger I've ever tasted! -for only $4- The place has been spruced up, redecorated, clean throughout, decent service and the locals were very friendly. 13 big screen TVs for sports or... I liked it!
(4)Joshua W.
Giving them 4 stars for the food, 2 stars for the service. Swear to god the old guy tending bar forgot his hearing aids. Girlfriend ordered a Summit Maibock and I ordered a Finnegans Amber. I received a Maibock and she received a Leinies Honeyweiss.... The waitress wasn't what I'd call pleasant but not uncongenial either. The tacos were phenomenal and a great price only $5. We each had 2 beers...I ended up drinking the Leinies for free from the screw up, and our total bill for food and 4 beers only $25. My girlfriend thoroughly enjoyed her pepperjack burger and the tator tots were great too. I'd come back here again for dinner any day, but don't expect phenomenal service. It is definitely a dive.
(3)Danielle G.
Place wasn't busy when we arrived. Bar tender was friendly and told us that if it was our first time there, its better in the evenings. We decided to check out their menu and ordered 2 pc. Broaster Chicken that came with jo-jo and cole slaw. Hubs order burger with pepper jack cheese and jalepenos with tater tots. First thing I noticed was the container for the slaw was half full. Its a really small container that I thought... filling this up would give a better impression. The chicken was greasy and so were the jo-jo's. The didn't have much flavor...just a potatoe wedge with sour cream to add. Burger was okay too. A better bun would have made a big difference. Hubs said burger was fine. Beer was cold and selection is typical of what you'd expect. Appreciate the old school ambiance of the place... its been around for years and I respect that. Bartender did mention that next week they are coming into the 21 century and getting computerized cash registers which means they will take debit/card cards. Will give this place another shot... in the evening.
(3)Valerie H.
Some of the other reviews of this place confuse me. You really didn't expect Joe and Stan's to be a classy establishment, did you? It's a dive bar that doesn't claim to be anything but. Some coworkers and I came here after work last night (after a disappointing visit to Burger Moes) to partake in cheap drinks and karaoke. Both delivered, though I didn't get the right change for one of my drinks. They were out of popcorn in the popcorn machine, but brought out microwaved popcorn for us. I must have looked pretty sad when I noticed the empty machine. Aside from being freezing, the bathroom really wasn't that bad, and we didn't have any problem with the staff. I can't say I will put Joe and Stan's on my go-to list, but I'd partake in karaoke again if I have enough to drink. I really belted out Celine Dion...or so I thought.
(3)Dima M.
I don't know why anyone would come to this place and have high expectations. It's a typical local bar, with all the basics, and karaoke. Granted, karaoke is best performed and observed when drunk, but hey, here's a bar with drinks that can do just that. No one ever advertised this bar as St. Paul's finest hot spot, but if you're looking for a good time with friends and you can tolerate someone completely butchering a song in the background, this is just the place. Would I eat here? Probably not. Would I go out of my way to go here? Probably not. But would I come if my friends decided to get together here and grab my beer and enjoy my time? I most definitely would!
(3)Juliann M.
We returned to Joe and Stans after being away for years. Always loved the burgers and tacos (like my German mom made, not so "authentic"). It was Friday night and the special was prime rib for $10 so I had to try it, but husband had to have the cheeseburger. Both were fantastic. Great value and still actual real, fresh, cooked in THEIR kitchen---not just heated from frozen or packages---BEEF. The best part was playing bar bingo and the meat raffle while we waited for the food. Who doesn't find it a claim of distinction when going out for dinner and returning home with a prize of a big hunk of frozen meat? The people watching, 50s music, sports on tv's everywhere, and extreme happy friendly-ness must be experienced to understand how much fun you can have and still not break $50 for a night out at the bar with dinner! We won't wait 5 years to return next time.
(4)