I think they may have been having an off night. I kept hearing some one yelling in the open kitchen "Just focus and cook". That being said, it took a long time for every thing. When we walked in, the hostess was frazzled - it took her a few minutes to get organized before she could even think about seating us. It took a while to get a waitress. Food took over 20 minutes to arrive. It took almost 10 minutes to pay. Food was decent. Grilled cheese was spot on and I was happy to see that the fruit was actual fresh fruit. Orange wedges and halved grapes. BUT the plate was very hot. And the fruit was placed directly on the hot plate. Which quickly resulted in wilted fruit. I thought the beverages were overpriced. $3 for fountain soda and $4 for bottled. I should have just had a beer instead! It probably would have been cheaper! read more

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For some reason I feel like NYAJ gets a bad rap for being a chain but I can't help but love this place. It's a great go to when we want a casual easy dinner. I've always like the food and the bread and olive oil are the best. Service is always very friendly. I've definitely noticed a few times during the winter them being short staffed and low on bartenders but that's more reflective of the current food industry climate than NYAJ. read more

Was in Acton a week ago with my group of friends. Worst service ever. Server was tall, skinny walking with an air, hair like a ballerina student. No clue at all about service. We had to ask for everything and she was always surprised!!!! Ask for sugar, bread, take out box, drinks, checks... no business working in a restaurant. Ruined the whole experience. read more

Went there last week for our 3rd time. We like seating in the bar area, but nothing was available so we tried the dining room. We waited at least 10 minutes for someone to at least greet us at our table, but that never happened so I checked the bar area once again. Fortunately something opened up so we sat there. Food prices have risen here (the chain) at a higher rate than any other place we have we have seen. I used to get steak tips but not at $29, so we chose sandwiches since we had a coupon. The bartender was great as far as service and she had waited on us in the past. But the total bill even after our coupon, was still higher than other places we get meals at so we are done. read more

Prices are steep but quality of meals are good. I really love the mustard crusted chicken and the potstickers. Tried the chocolate chip cookies over the weekend and they were warm, soft, and decadent! The bread is great here too. I do miss the toasted goat cheese salad with the raspberry vinaigrette though. I usually stop by here after a nail appointment for a drink and quick bite. Service is fast and bartender is super friendly. read more

First forgot to take a picture of my Backyard Burger* Which is their classic burger, served on a roll with white cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and fries. Burger was cooked to perfection and their thin fries were perfect at medium well. Didn't have room for dessert of course after having some of their bread an olive oil dip with pepper and cheese before my burger LOL! Our sever was great and the atmosphere for lunch is as expected but service was spot on. I would definitely come back for sure, so give this place a try when you're in the area. read more

i went here last week for the first time. To say it was bad is an understatement Constantly asking for more bread etc, the wait staff was so awkward (but tbh it was so funny), we never got a refill on water. i can get over the awkward and somewhat bad service but the food was HORRIBLE. I had the Mediterranean pizza and it was worse than a frozen pizza from the supermarket. the olives were just thrown on whole, the pesto did not even taste normal, and the peppers were huge slices. I never complain about food places and don't even have the yelp app, but I had to do it here because it was upsettingly bad. Also the prices were way too high with the quality of food I received. read more

When I arrived the host ushered me and my party to the bar section. At first this seemed okay as we were the only guests in the area. The bartender was our server and took our drink and food orders. The food came out perfect and tasted great. However towards the end of the meal the service dwindled I had to walk to the bar to collect my receipt and pay. The bartender was busy waiting on multiple tables in the bar section. He was also trying to pour beers and the keg was full of foam. So much foam that we finished our entire meal before he could check on us. Maybe a few more team members to help him out are needed. Still the food quality, atmosphere, and service was great. I hope things improve for the industry. read more

As it says in the name, not average! Friendly service, Quick and tasty. I am unable to eat wheat and they are gluten-free dinner rolls as well as gluten-free options are fantastic. I don't feel like I'm getting some sort of secondary menu on a post it, I have just as many options to enjoy all the tasty food that my other friends do just with ouch certain gluten components or with a gluten free substitute. Excellent job! read more

Good food, cool atmosphere and fair pricing. The staff was plentiful and nice as well. Would go back for sure. I had sirloin steak tips with mashed potatoes and green beans and I left completely satisfied. read more

The food here is great quality and very allergy friendly. The service is typically good and it's a nice atmosphere. However it is often busy and as such sometimes seating and service is a little slow. read more

Not Your Average Joe's - Acton - Caprese pasta (no chicken) - New American Near Me - Acton, Massachusetts

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Finally used my Phantom Gourmet gift card and tried Not Your Average Joe's in Acton. I was very impressed with the food as I got the Tuscan Chicken sandwich and my wife got the steak tips with mashed potatoes. My sandwich had very good flavor with the tomatoes and aioli. Had a taste of of my wife's dish as well and the steak was moist and the potatoes creamy. Only thing stopping me from coming back is the price is a little higher than I prefer to spend but that seems to be the norm up here. I may have to go with the BBQ Meatloaf my next time back though. read more

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Had the mustard crusted chicken blt sandwich. I think the used half the usual amount of chicken. Lots of fries but expensive for the amount of chicken I got. Come on Joes you can do better. read more

The menu has less options and the portions are smaller. Not as good as it used to be.

I love this restaurant, chain and all. I've never had much of a wait and spent it at the bar so didn't mind so much. It's lively enough and service is efficient and friendly always. The menu selections are up my alley and I always have trouble deciding. On this Friday evening, I opted for the appetizer of asian chicken dumplings and a salad -- the poached pear spinach salad. The dumplings were good; can't imagine how they could have gone wrong they're such a simple dish but the salad was really the winner. Just the right size and the ingredients "red wine poached pears, blue cheese, candied pecans, dried cranberries, baby spinach and crispy onion strings, with warm maple vinaigrette " was just right in taste and texture, as well. Add to this the fact that they offer not just one but two different Rieslings by the glass and I'm loving it. In fact, I ordered the German Saint M and it was wonderful. And, the bread and dipping sauce. Let's not forget to mention that. I was orgasmically in heaven over that combination. And the dipping recipe is on Not Your Average Joe's blog http://www.notyouraveragejoes.com/blog/not-your-average-joes-dipping-sauce-recipe/ Ingredients: Grated Romano/Parmensan Cheese 1 oz Crushed Red Pepper Flakes 1 pinch Olive Oil Blend or Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 fl oz Chopped Garlic 1/2 tsp Directions: Combine cheese and red pepper flakes together. Add garlic and oil and mix well. I dunno. It seemed as though it should be more complicated than that because it was so delicious! One last thing of course -- dessert! We shared the molten chocolate cake with ice cream and even the presentation was eye-appealing. The taste was chocolatey just as it should be. read more

The Mustard Crusted Chicken is amazing. Although pricy at $17, the chicken is juicy and tender and the mashed potatoes are creamy and filling. It's better as a dinner entree because of the price and size. The service at this location is mediocre. It seemed as though none of the waitresses wanted to be there. read more

Not Your Average Joe's - Acton - Mustard Crusted Chicken is delicious! - New American Near Me - Acton, Massachusetts

Why chefs/line cooks think they have the right to undercook meat when requested to be well done is beyond me. If a burger is ordered to be prepared well done, the customer should not pick it off the plate only to see blood dripping from it. After cutting into it, it was apparent that the burger was actually rare (pink and bloody). Even friends at our table were horrified by the pinkness of the beef. The server explained that I should have ordered it as "burned" not well done. However, upon placing the order, that terminology was not suggested and apparently it was never communicated to the kitchen. Bottom line: unless the kitchen is paying for the meal, the food should be prepared per the customer's request. read more

Not Your Average Joe's - Acton - New American Near Me - Acton, Massachusetts

This place is the best COVID friendly restaurant! Tons of room, solid food, plenty of privacy. Seriously...if you're nervous about the pandemic but really want to go out to eat, come here! Waiters are fantastic, food and drink selection are casual. Will be back here despite case peaks and troughs. Thank you all for keeping customers spread out and safe in your gorgeous dining room. read more

I am a regular here. They have a very varied menu that enables me to decide what I am in the mood for each time. Items range from sandwiches and pizzas to fresh broiled scallops. I have never been disappointed. What makes NYAJ special is that they are willing to go out of their way to do things special for you. I personally avoid carbs in my meals. So, when I get to the table, I ask for carrots and celery instead of the bread. No problem and no charge. (They even offered free hummus, taziki dip or blue cheese dressing.) Two veggies instead of potatoes -- no problem. Grilled instead of fried -- happy to do so. I always feel that they will go out of their way for me. And, that is a place to be a regular. read more

This was the 5/6 time eating here and each time has been an absolute pleasure. Started the meal off with two appetizers.. The caprese salad and the Caribbean chicken tenders. Both were amazing. The salad was fresh and the chicken perfectly cooked and not overly breaded. I ordered the Tuscan grilled chicken with hand cut fries. Mmmmmm mmmmm good!! It was my mother's first time and she loved her seafood jambalaya. Prices are very reasonable too! read more

This gem of a restaurant has great food, amazing service (shout out to Courtney) & great ambience. The portion size is more than plenty and the flavors will dance in your mouth. I would go back in a heart beat. read more

Why is this the best bread and oils I ever? No idea but so freaking good. Was able to reserve a table on open table which was super easy. The restaurant was clean and had plenty of parking. Our server was very sweet and patient. I got the butternut squash flat bread and it was delicious and I had plenty for leftovers the next day. They have a decent selection on tap and for mixed drinks and prices aren't bad. Average. They also have a great gluten free selection and since a lot of my family and friends are gluten this is a nice place to come. read more

Just stepped in same pile of shit once again. I think when they buying oysters, the ask for extra small once. I had two dozen, it's probably not even appetizer. read more

Stopped here on our arrival to the Boston area to have lunch with a friend. At first glance I thought they were a pizzeria which I was excited about. As we walked in to be seated I didn't notice anyone eating pizza though which worried me. After reviewing the menu I had a hard time getting a feel for what this restaurant was "about." Pub food with flare? Upscale burgers? Gastropub? Ultimately my wife and I ended up with sandwiches with soup (for her) and salad (for me). I had the mustard crusted chicken BLT that I enjoyed although it was overly tart as the mustard crust was very intense. Soft bread, fresh toppings, and delicious tomatoes. Chicken was thin and a little rough but still good. Side salad with balsamic dressing was also refreshing but I should've ordered fries to cut the sour mustard. Balsamic just added to the intense competing flavors. Service was fine, atmosphere was clean and welcoming, but nothing about it really stuck out to me. read more

FREE BREAD!!! This helped me fill up my stomach. The bread came with this olive oil/Romano cheese sauce that was very rich and filling. I ordered the haddock, which came with fries and coke slaw. I love cold slaw. This one was a bit raw but I don't care. The French fries were too fried, I like it when they're still yellow, not when they're brown and crunchy. This place has a romantic interior with red seats and red orange and yellow lighting. There are all sorts of designs and stuff too on the lights and walls. Good vibe. My free water came with lemon which is awesome for a hot summer day. The haddock was better than I expected actually... In my head I was thinking I would get a fish and chips style fried fish but it wasn't that fried which I liked. I'm still hungry though, but that's because I did these long sprints yesterday and I've been ravenous. read more

Not Your Average Joe's - Acton - Free bread - New American Near Me - Acton, Massachusetts

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Went to the Acton location saturday and odered the Impossible Burger, It was first served cold. I sent it back and when it returned it was still cold and not eatable. The server did her best and ordered another one, but again not eatable. The other meal I ordered tasted as though the kitchen dumped a lot of salt on the meal. I ate but was not happy. In the end I was charged $20 for the burger and $18 for the other meal. A complete waste, I will not be back read more

Very disappointed. For reservation, i asked about celebrating birthday for my friend and why we chose this location was convenience. They said hey would bring out a cake for the birthday person when desert came if discount a desert. The restaurant forgot about the birthday celebration which is very unfortunate. The sirloin tips were to be cooked medium and instead were burnt and lacked flavor. The rice pilaf isn't what it is and instead was a hard clump of yellow rice. Not pleased and won't go here again. There would be no reason for me to refer this restaurant. read more

We went to the Acton location last weekend for a low key birthday dinner. Food was very ordinary. I had the chicken and shrimp bowl. Sounds good but I've made a similar dish in s rush on a weeknight. House wine was $15 / glass. Yikes, house wine is the value right??? We will NOT be going back. Very dissatisfied. read more

I have had good experiences in the past but now feel it is overpriced and the portions have gotten smaller. I took some Clients in for lunch, $16.50 for a vegetarian burger, $13.00 for a Tuscan chicken sandwich that my Client's husband remarked "is that sliders?". My tuscan chicken salad was unimpressive and the grilled chicken seemed pale and fake grilled. $3.25 a for root beer (Barq's nothing fancy) and $3.75 for an ice tea? Seems pricey to be sitting in a relatively noisy family restaurant and dine. The Nashua location seems much better overall for food and ambiance. read more

I love sitting and dining at this place as it is wonderful to hangout . Very peaceful environment and wonderful staffs and waiters. The pizzas at this place are great in taste and flavor . The taste defines the work and effort put on to cooking the food. Highly recommended place for dinner as well as delivery . read more

I'm giving it two Stars instead of one due to the fact that I had never had a bad meal at this restaurant ever. I happen to order the cobb salad. When it came, I took a couple of bites, and realize that something was off with the blue cheese. The waiter came over and I told him. He took it back and then offered me something else. At that point, I had become nauseous and lost my appetite. I then made a dash for the bathroom. I don't want to let you know what actually happened. In between the time I got back from the bathroom until we got the check 30 minutes later, not once did the server or any manager come up to me. I did leave a rather nasty note on the back of a check. When I got home and felt a little better, I called and spoke to one of the managers. She had not been made aware of the problem until after we left and they saw the note on my check. I simply wanted to let her know that you probably had a bad batch of blue cheese. She did offer me a gift card, which at almost two weeks has yet to arrive. read more

My previous review wasn't necessarily fair or very helpful, so here is an update. I've given the Acton Joe's a few more tries as I work in the area and do enjoy the food at the other locations (Nashua most notably). Unfortunately this location is still the weakest of the pack in my book, with major service issues every visit. The food is fine, not great. This location perfectly fits the Yelp 3 star rating - this place is just okay. This location is usually packed, great for them. This does end up hurting customers though as we've waited up front at the host stand for upwards of five minutes before we get the "have you been waiting long?", yes we have. Table service is also generally slow, no refills, food comes then we don't see anyone until its time for the bill. Not sure if this is location specific or what, but it is probably a 50/50 gamble if the mobile payment app is going to work correctly. Even if you can get a code to generate that works, none of the servers are trained on how it works. We often get "what is that?" when we say we want to use the mobile app for payment and splitting. This was our experience on our most recent visit. The waitress could *not* figure it out, and just gave up and asked us to pay the traditional way. To be honest, a major draw to this chain for my friends and I is the simplicity the app offers when it comes to paying the bill. Again, this may not necessarily be specific to the Acton location, but more than once we've had a waitress who had no clue what the app was. read more

While in the area for a meeting, we wanted a quick bite afterwards and were happy to find a NYAJ near by. First impressions: lots of parking, warmly greeted and very clean inside. We had made a reservation, were seated right away and had the best server Taylor! He was friendly, professional and super efficient. Our cocktails were icy cold and blended well. Our burgers were cooked to order and very tasty. It filled up very quickly - as it is a popular spot. The entire staff seemed pleasant and there was a nice buzz in the air amongst the patrons. We'll definitely re visit this restaurant when in the area again. read more

The Lobsters were delicious the lobster was cold the rolls were warm and they even had a small serving of the famous olive oil/garlic with a few pieces of bread yummy .. although we miss the bartenders it was an excellent choice for takeout read more

Just average at Not Your Average Joe's. Last night we went after a lax game around 9pm. Place was very cute with a decent crowd and we were seated promptly. That's the last thing that was prompt. Waitress was pleasant but slow. Might not be her fault but was slow regardless. My martini was tasty but as far as having an ounce of alcohol I couldn't tell. Mostly just sweet. Bread was good as always. Ordered the enchiladas sans onions. Waitress didn't put in order correctly. When it finally arrived with onions I said it was fine but she said she would have them make it again. Then from the kitchen a loud "that without onions ain't happening...grumble grumble grumble". Waitress came over and knew we heard but said they are premade and can't be altered. Fine. No big deal. They were just ok. Nothing special. Manager did comp the meal and we left over an hour later. Overall it was just ok. Wouldn't rush to go to another one. read more

Always good. Tonight was one haddock dinner and a scollop dinner. Both fresh and tasty. Dessert of a very tart key lime pie and coffee. Wonderful. Another nice dinner @ NYAJ. I am never disappointed when I eat here. The food and service is always good. They will remain in my top 5 places to go in the area. read more

Service deplorable and restaurant not that busy. Staff just didn't seem to care. Seated next to partition with the kitchen and staff very loud and unprofessional. Too many other choices to accept mediocrity Gave it a try again but have been sitting at our table for 10 minutes and NO ONE has even acknowledged us read more

Not Your Average Joe's is one of my favorite restaurants in general, but this visit was spectacular. I've come to the consensus that between the outstanding service and food (continuously), great coupons, birthday offers, and other generous donations to each and every community in which they reside, NYAJ's is the most reliable and family friendly spot for dining. The Acton location isn't one of the newer locations, however it was recently remodeled and is gorgeous. It's spacious, new-fangled, and fits in perfectly with the brand new motif of this shopping center. Jessica along with the other staff were all friendly, kind, helpful and attentive. The restaurant wasn't very busy, service was overly fast, and the restaurant is kept in tip-top, clean condition. The menu is continually evolving, yet always includes the classics that keeps NYAJ's staying NYAJ's. Specifically, the Backyard Burger and Not Your Average Nacho's are delicious. Definitely my favorite options on the menu. Bread is also phenomenal, and definitely is off the charts in comparison to other restaurants. Coupons are always around and this location doesn't ever seem to get too packed, and has many, many tables and a bar area too. Take out also available. 5 stars for NYAJ's in Acton. This is one of my favorite locations and I'm surely coming back if I'm even relatively close again. Definitely the best restaurant throughout the area. read more

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order again after a very healthy conversation with the manager in charge and unnotice order again many more times and the food was allways awsome. thanks alan for the good work. read more

My first visit to NYAJ's was good. Their complimentary bread was tasty, the wood fire pizza was excellent and the staff were friendly and attentive. I'm not crazy about the decorating style (it looks like a barrel of abstract art exploded all over the walls) but that's a matter of personal taste. Overall it was a solid dining experience and I wouldn't mind going again. read more