No matter what scope of pay grade, theological leanings, or political preference, a good old-fashioned coffee shop is a place of refuge for everybody. It’s just that feeling of walking in, being greeted by a friendly staff that has the patina of having worked there long before you received your driver’s license, booths filled with locals and travelers tucked deep into hearty plates of comforting goodness and the ever-present counter.
That counter is where the action is. The servers talk loudly to one another, sometimes nearly yelling at a regular if they want another refill, all the while dancing that busy restaurant step in heated improvised syncopation as platters of food clack out of the kitchen window.
The American diner is a safe haven. And oftentimes, a rather tasty one at that.
Joe’s Pancake House here in Tucson is no exception, outside of being exceptional. Nestled nearly inconspicuously on the corner of Kolb and Golf Links Road, Joe’s has been an eastside eating institution since 1984.
The tale of its inception is one that is all-American as well. A man by the name of Joseph Abi-Ad migrated to Tucson from Lebanon on the accounts of a good friend working an oil rig who invited him to come and visit. Joseph liked Tucson so much that he decided to stay and call this desert hamlet home. Having very little money or experience in western culture, Joseph decided to cook American-style breakfasts in a spot near his house that offered him a small space to do so.
That spot was a Tastee-Freez. That spot would later become Joe’s Pancake House.
Mary Brindley and Joseph Abi-Ad (Photo by Mark Whittaker)
Joseph set up his makeshift kitchen between pinball machines and a soda fountain, walked across the parkway, bought eggs, bacon, and such from a supermarket, then began cranking out breakfasts for the neighboring community. In a Tastee-Freez.
“He would make maybe ten dollars a day the first week, then twenty the next, and pretty soon he was actually making a living off of cooking breakfast,” said Mary Brindley.
Brindley is Joseph’s daughter who has been running and managing Joe’s side by side with her father since, well, about the time she got her driver’s license.
“This is a 100% family-owned and operated business,” says Brindley. “Always has been and it always will be.”
Thing is, managing Joe’s for Mary is a unique task for her, or anybody really, to say the least, because Mary lives in Dallas.
Yes, that Dallas. Dallas, Texas.
Her husband got a promotion that he could not pass up so they had to relocate. She now runs Joe’s via phone and computer but makes it back to Tucson as often as she can for meetings, tasting new recipes, to give Joe a bit of a break, and also for one big important reason.
“My mom and dad need their grand-baby time,” Brindley says with a smile, referring to her two daughters.
Now one would think that a popular diner who has received multiple “Best Breakfast in Tucson” reader’s choice awards through the Arizona Daily Star wouldn’t add or subtract dishes if the math is correct. But they do.
Their menu, outside of the required eggs, griddle cakes, soups, salads, and sandwiches, includes our sought-after southwest staples such as Beef or Chicken Tacos ($10.99), Enchiladas ($11.99), and Chilaquiles with either beef ($11.99) or chicken ($10.99), all of which feature sauces, salsas, and meats that are made in house. One thing is for sure, you have to try any and all breakfast items that feature their homemade chorizo. It normally isn’t expected to find real caliber chorizo in a coffee shop but this is Tucson after all.
The burgers are juicy and delicious and the breakfast specials will please any hungry lumberjack. On Tuesday, do yourself a favor and get the spaghetti lunch special with homemade meat sauce and praise be to the almighty club sandwich because the one served at Joe’s in a tiered display of diner glory necessity.
Gyros are typically found in Greek restaurants but seeing as it is a close cousin to the shawarma, a predominant street food favorite in Lebanon, Joe’s offers one that is both generous in portion and generous in flavor and authenticity.
“I plan on introducing Lebanese dishes as specials in the near future,” informs Brindley, “most likely when I take the business over from my dad.”
That’s right, fans and feasters of Joe’s. The patriarch Joseph Abi-Ad is looking to step down at some point and the only successor to the cozy empire of eats is of course, Mary. As she said, Joe’s is and will always be a family-run business.
“It’s not happening anytime really soon, but he is looking to retire and I can run Joe’s as an owner remotely,” said Brindley. “Thing is, I really don’t want to stop working because once you do that you start to get old. When we make the switch we will have to cross that bridge as far as me being here. We have no intention of taking Joe’s away from our customers. Joe’s is definitely here to stay.”
Oh, and when you visit Joe’s be sure to make note of the wall decorated with framed images from the 1999 released movie “Three Kings.” That’s because Joe and Mary are in it when it was filming in Casa Grande. So, as you partake in those pancakes of Joe’s namesake, you can stare into the deep blue eyes of George Clooney and wonder if he likes his eggs poached, scrambled, or sunny-side-up.
It’s hardboiled actually. I had to look it up.
The diner is open every day of the year and its hours of operation are 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Monday – Saturday, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday, and 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. on major holidays. Joe’s Pancake House is located at 2532 S. Kolb Rd. For more information, visit joespancakehousetucson.com and follow Joe’s on Facebook or Instagram.
It was a Sonoran hot dog that made Mark switch from music journalism to food writing when he moved to Tucson from San Francisco in 2006. He hasn’t been the same since.
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24jun5:00 pm 8:00 pm Chillin at the Chul Chill at the Chul with music, refreshing spirits, and light bites. 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Arizona Tohono Chul Garden Bistro
Join Tohono Chul on Fridays and Saturdays this summer for Chillin at the Chul! From 5 to 8 pm you'll find music, refreshing spirits, and light bites. Admission is free. You can literally
Join Tohono Chul on Fridays and Saturdays this summer for Chillin at the Chul! From 5 to 8 pm you’ll find music, refreshing spirits, and light bites.
You can literally chill down in the gardens in the shade of mature trees that contribute to a cooling 10° difference in temperature. Saturdays are family friendly as they’ve partnered with the Children’s Museum of Oro Valley to provide nature play to keep kids entertained while parents relax.
There are NA options as well such as Prickly Pear lemonade and agua fresca.
Check out the Tohono Chul event page to see a full lineup of the ever-changing entertainment schedule
(Friday) 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Arizona
june 25, 2022 5:00 pm july 1, 2022 5:00 pm july 2, 2022 5:00 pm july 8, 2022 5:00 pm july 9, 2022 5:00 pm july 15, 2022 5:00 pm july 16, 2022 5:00 pm july 22, 2022 5:00 pm july 23, 2022 5:00 pm july 29, 2022 5:00 pm july 30, 2022 5:00 pm august 5, 2022 5:00 pm august 6, 2022 5:00 pm august 12, 2022 5:00 pm august 13, 2022 5:00 pm august 19, 2022 5:00 pm august 20, 2022 5:00 pm august 26, 2022 5:00 pm august 27, 2022 5:00 pm
25jun10:00 am 12:00 pm Mariachi Brunch Mariachi brunch at American Eat Co. this Saturday, June 25th from 10am to 12pm. 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Arizona Amerian Eat Co.
Come out with friends and family to enjoy a variety of food and mariachi music from Sonido de Mexico at the American Eat food court.
Come out with friends and family to enjoy a variety of food and mariachi music from Sonido de Mexico at the American Eat food court.
(Saturday) 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Arizona
25jun(jun 25)12:00 pm 26(jun 26)2:00 am Casa Marana 4 Year Anniversary Party Live music by Paul Opocensky 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (26) Arizona Casa Marana
Celebrate Casa’s 4 Year Anniversary on with Saturday, June 25th with live music by Paul Opocensky from 7pm-9pm ? Check out the customer-crafted and favorites cocktail menu where you might even
Celebrate Casa’s 4 Year Anniversary on with Saturday, June 25th with live music by Paul Opocensky from 7pm-9pm ?
Check out the customer-crafted and favorites cocktail menu where you might even see some old favorites brought back for this very special occasion. Casa will be serving up some fun shots and will host a customer photo wall. If you’ve snagged a photo within the month of June and posted it on your feed (no stories), tag Casa Marana on your social media, you can be added to their photo wall and get 10% off your drinks!
25 (Saturday) 12:00 pm - 26 (Sunday) 2:00 am Arizona
8225 N. Courtney Page Way, Suite 191
01jul5:00 pm 8:00 pm Chillin at the Chul Chill at the Chul with music, refreshing spirits, and light bites. 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Arizona Tohono Chul Garden Bistro
Join Tohono Chul on Fridays and Saturdays this summer for Chillin at the Chul! From 5 to 8 pm you'll find music, refreshing spirits, and light bites. Admission is free. You can literally
Join Tohono Chul on Fridays and Saturdays this summer for Chillin at the Chul! From 5 to 8 pm you’ll find music, refreshing spirits, and light bites.
You can literally chill down in the gardens in the shade of mature trees that contribute to a cooling 10° difference in temperature. Saturdays are family friendly as they’ve partnered with the Children’s Museum of Oro Valley to provide nature play to keep kids entertained while parents relax.
There are NA options as well such as Prickly Pear lemonade and agua fresca.
Check out the Tohono Chul event page to see a full lineup of the ever-changing entertainment schedule
(Friday) 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Arizona
july 2, 2022 5:00 pm july 8, 2022 5:00 pm july 9, 2022 5:00 pm july 15, 2022 5:00 pm july 16, 2022 5:00 pm july 22, 2022 5:00 pm july 23, 2022 5:00 pm july 29, 2022 5:00 pm july 30, 2022 5:00 pm august 5, 2022 5:00 pm august 6, 2022 5:00 pm august 12, 2022 5:00 pm august 13, 2022 5:00 pm august 19, 2022 5:00 pm august 20, 2022 5:00 pm august 26, 2022 5:00 pm august 27, 2022 5:00 pm
02jul5:00 pm 8:00 pm Chillin at the Chul Chill at the Chul with music, refreshing spirits, and light bites. 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Arizona Tohono Chul Garden Bistro
Join Tohono Chul on Fridays and Saturdays this summer for Chillin at the Chul! From 5 to 8 pm you'll find music, refreshing spirits, and light bites. Admission is free. You can literally
Join Tohono Chul on Fridays and Saturdays this summer for Chillin at the Chul! From 5 to 8 pm you’ll find music, refreshing spirits, and light bites.
You can literally chill down in the gardens in the shade of mature trees that contribute to a cooling 10° difference in temperature. Saturdays are family friendly as they’ve partnered with the Children’s Museum of Oro Valley to provide nature play to keep kids entertained while parents relax.
There are NA options as well such as Prickly Pear lemonade and agua fresca.
Check out the Tohono Chul event page to see a full lineup of the ever-changing entertainment schedule
(Saturday) 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Arizona
july 8, 2022 5:00 pm july 9, 2022 5:00 pm july 15, 2022 5:00 pm july 16, 2022 5:00 pm july 22, 2022 5:00 pm july 23, 2022 5:00 pm july 29, 2022 5:00 pm july 30, 2022 5:00 pm august 5, 2022 5:00 pm august 6, 2022 5:00 pm august 12, 2022 5:00 pm august 13, 2022 5:00 pm august 19, 2022 5:00 pm august 20, 2022 5:00 pm august 26, 2022 5:00 pm august 27, 2022 5:00 pm
03jul5:00 pm 9:30 pm Marana's Star-Spangled Spectacular on July 3rd Star-Spangled Spectacular in Marana 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm Arizona Crossroads at Silverbell District Park
The Town of Marana is to present their Star-Spangled Spectacular event! This will be a fantastic evening of festivities that will include a traditional fireworks finale for the community to
The Town of Marana is to present their Star-Spangled Spectacular event! This will be a fantastic evening of festivities that will include a traditional fireworks finale for the community to enjoy. The Star-Spangled Spectacular event will take place on Sunday, July 3, 2022 at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park.
The festivities will start at 5pm and the fireworks show will start at 9pm. Free attractions include a splash pad, field games, inflatables, exhibitors, instrument petting zoo, and a car show presented by Obsessions Car Club.
Food vendors who will be at the event:
(Sunday) 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm Arizona
Crossroads at Silverbell District Park