Update 10/2019: Mitzi and I decided to go one more time ( a coupon helped) on a Sunday night and it was regretful. The focaccia was simply not cooked resulting in the entire middle being a dough-ball. The waiter (who was very nice about it all) said that it was the last tray of the night (it was about 8P on Sunday) but it shouldn't have ever left the kitchen. That was replaced by obviously frozen gluten-free rolls. Indeed, they *were* actually frozen inside along w/ the frozen butter. The fish-n-chips were a flavorless greasy mess and they used some sort of dressing like creamy parmesan vs. tartar sauce. The interior decor is also weird. It looks like prison cinderblock. In the end, it was 3rd strike and you're out. Not going back. This chain and/or location needs to be taken out back and put out of its misery. End of update. read more

Been here a couple times, overall it is pretty average. The food is average, the atmosphere is average. They should consider renaming the restraint. read more

Not Your Average Joe's has been one of my favorite restaurants since I was in college. I'd go to the Dartmouth location every weekend. When I moved to the Acton area years ago, I was so happy to have a restaurant right in town! It's been my family's favorite spot for years. The kids love going weekly/bi-weekly. Unfortunately, since the pandemic, things have changed. The once full, amazing menu is now very limited. The prices have skyrocketed and the portions are so tiny now! I went the other day and the mustard crusted sandwich is now half the size and twice the price. Not only that, but the price was even HIGHER on the bill than on the menu! I brought this up with my waitress and she said the menus haven't been updated with the prices yet? She refused to honor the price listed on the menu. Just for LUNCH with my 3 year old and I, it cost $40!!! No alcohol, and just sandwiches. Because of this, I probably won't be back. It's a shame because it's been my whole family's favorite go-to restaurant for years. Very disappointed. read more

5th time to eat here and will be the last. I've tried all (of a very small handful) of the vegetarian meals and finally gave up and spent $15 for a charred and unseasoned piece of salmon, with an abysmal portion of sides. The best thing about NYAJs is the complimentary bread, so at least you don't leave hungry. But now I'm skeptical of all restaurants that will feed you endless baskets of cold bread. read more

Not Your Average Joe's - Acton - My disappointing $15 meal. - New American Near Me - Acton, Massachusetts

The food is not good, tries to be fancy and misses the boat. Nothing about this place warrants another visit.

Uninspired cooking..lacking in skill. Had the Jambalaya ..zero passion making that dish. A ice cream scoop of cold ,kinda crunchy, rice served on top of a soupy bowl of cheap spaghetti sauce with some sausage bits thrown in. Not cheap either..that dish was over $15. Could of bought a can of Chef Boyardee for a lot less money for the exact same taste..ugh Plates for bread and oil( which we had to ask for) showed up from the dirty stack..another ugh..bartender didn't know what a snifter glass is for the cognac..sigh Waiter was amusing, gave another star for that..but he seemed slightly agitated by us. I guess stick to a burger and beer and don't wander around that menu..don't think they can handle it. Oh and can someone maybe clean up that women's bathroom..it looked like a sink maybe leaked and was never addressed..final ugh read more

Not your average pizza, better than most and not your average bloody mary on Sunday's definately more expensive than most. I think what bothers me is that they are 12$ to customize however you want but our bar tender just gave us standard ones and so that price not to have shrimp, bacon, lobster tails, cavier, isn't really worth it for a standard bloody mary, maybe re-think that. You can make a meal out of the complementary bread and bloody mary's, so if you order an app, a salad and pizza to share you might need to be rolled out of the place. There was really odd dynamic in here. There was plenty of "mall couples" with their matching sweat pants and disney hats but then there are couples that look like they put down a quarter of their pay check in grooming, soccer families and college jocks, so all over the board. Prices were ok but given again that we could have made a meal out of the free bread a little guidance would have been appreciated when ordering. read more

I always feel a little disappointed when I leave not your average joes. I keep remembering it being better than it is

This is a generous 2. Came here for a late lunch and sat in the bar area. Ordered the shrimp tacos and couldn't have been more disappointed. There were 3 tiny pieces of shrimp on each taco and then the taco was stuffed with shredded lettuce. Nothing else in there. It was supposed to have a sriracha aioli and something else I can't think of. The 3 pieces of shrimp on the taco were definitely not full pieces. They seemed to be cut in half butterfly style. So in total each taco had in total 1.5 pieces of shrimp. Really disappointed, but the bartender was very nice and as always the free bread is delicious so that's worth bumps it up from 1 star. read more

Not Your Average Joe's - Acton - "Shrimp Tacos" really a lettuce taco and barely any shrimp - New American Near Me - Acton, Massachusetts

I've never had a meal here I've enjoyed. For some reason my wife loves it, but every time I try a new dish it is disgusting. Not sure how exactly but all the meat and seafood dishes I've subjected myself to have the same generic gross taste that I can't explain. And the calamari is always bad. The atmosphere is exactly what you'd expect from a chain restaurant, the place is clean, staff is friendly. read more

NYAJ is like the 99 with better decor and bread. Ive been at least a half dozen times -with kids, GNO, with my parents...it's OK...it's average. Bread with the dipping oil is by far the best thing I've had. read more

Been going here more recently again because they do have a decent gluten free menu with a nice variety of options and seem pretty educated on gluten free. So far I have had the cobb salad (a few times) and the salmon dish. Both were very good. They offer gluten free rolls with dinner as well. They definitely taste gluten free, BUT, they are so worth getting, as then I can still sinfully indulge dipping into my own personal serving (or two) of their amazing olive oil/parmesan/pepper flake mixture!! Sooo good! read more

Cracker Barrel, but less food! I used to enjoy NYAJ's for an occasional meal, but not anymore, it's disgusting. They can't manage to put together a single meal without garlic. What's with ONLY "garlic mashed potatoes"? How complicated is it, to serve potatoes without garlic? Had Scrod tonight, it was swimming in grease. The so-called "crispy fingerling potatoes", weren't crispy, they were horribly greasy and probably deep friend. My daughter had steak tips ... yuk ! NYAJ's used to serve great Buffalo Tenders, not any more. Burned, tasteless and not even the nice presentation they used to use. The 99 Restaurant is the Capitol Grill in comparison to NYAJ's and that's scary! read more

I'd come here for the free bread alone. Seriously. The bread is always warm and soft, and the dipping sauce, a mix of oil and Parmesan and other wonderful stuff, is simply the best. The food is vastly improved from what it was several years ago as well. I recall not being impressed upon my first few visits to the location, but recently I haven't had any issue whatsoever with the food. It's much improved, though I question if the prices are justified. Expect long wait times. The waiting area is also small and cramped, but they make up for it with a much larger seating area. The restaurant can get noisy at times. If the menu was cheaper, I'd be more sold. For now, I'll take my free, delicious bread, and run. read more

Sitting at their bar for a buck an oyster, happy hour. They have oyster station setup for this event. Makes me think of the summer fun. The serve is slow, waited 20 mins for the 18 oysters we ordered. The drink I order and the Oysters were delicious. read more

Not Your Average Joe's - Acton - Oyster station set up for A buck-an-oyster, happy hour. - New American Near Me - Acton, Massachusetts

I ordered the Ahi Tuna entree salad and what I got at an appetizer. The salad contained seaweed salad and pickled ginger (the kind you get with cheap sushi) and the four smallest pieces of tuna. The tuna was so seasoned I thought I was eating beef jerky. Seriously. I couldn't even taste the fish! The sauce/dressing that accompanied the salad was too sweet, sticky and over powered the rest of the flavors in this dish. I was still hungry after I finished! I was disappointed with this meal. I would not order or recommend this dish. Sorry NYAJ, your dipping bread is still good! read more

I've eaten at a couple locations and have always had a good meal. The staff are always well trained and friendly. I love the menu, it's diverse and there's always something I want to try. I had the special tonight. Pecan chicken with slaw and sweet potato wedges. It was really good. I loved the slaw and the wedges were perfectly baked. The pecan coating became a little too much so I scraped some off, no big deal. It actually tasted really good with bites of the potato anyway. My date had the vegetable spring rolls. They were packed with vegetables and basil. The dipping sauce was excellent. I highly recommend you give these a try. I had one of the salad entrees last time I visited and remember really liking it a lot. I also like the bread they send out. The olive oil and cheese dipping is pretty weird though. I would prefer just olive oil with some herbs to start please. read more

Dinner tonight. Great mix of entrees that cover just about any taste, and a Gluten free menu. They offered gluten free rolls along with their regular bread, which was served with an olive oil/Parmesan cheese/chili flake mixture (really yummy!). Spring rolls for an appetizer, and though I expected them to be warm or even deep fried they were served chilled. Very yummy with fresh vegetables. I had the cobb salad, nothing outstanding but very good. Others said their fish dishes and salad were very tasty. I would definitely come back and try other things. It 's also a bit on the noisy side, so if you're planning any deep conversations over a meal I'd probably wait and do it before or after. It was very difficult to hear. Good atmosphere though- go and check it out! read more

3 stars... i've been to a few NYAJ's and I think it's slipping a little. No wait... 4 stars. The bread is awesome! Nah... 3 stars... bad mustard crusted chicken last time I went. OK, so I'm confused. It's usually pretty good. Mustard crusted chicken and the steak tips are my favorites. The green beans rock, mashed potatoes are hit or miss. I like the set-up/ feel of the place (they all look the same), except it seems like the Acton one always has screaming children in it. Final opinion, go if your in the mood. If you're looking for something SUPER yummy, you might need to look further. read more

I will say I went here for lunch and was extremely impressed. (I am a West-Coaster and have never been to a NYAJ before.) We got there for lunch and while around 1:00, the parking situation stunk, once we were able to get into the restaurant we were seated immediately. The bread that they give you with olive oil/Parmesan cheese is really good... frankly I could have eaten that for lunch and been quite happy! I ordered the Mustard Crusted Chicken dish which was also very good and came quickly. And overall the meal was pretty affordable. All that would typically make for a 4 star review but what put it over the top was the service. Our server, Halley, was nicer and more attentive than what I would get in a finer restaurant. And in a chain restaurant?!? Her level of service put this place over the top in my book! Next time I'm in town, I will be checking NYAJ out again! read more

Well, the appetizer came out cold and the solution was to put it in the microwave. It came back with the dirty serving utensils. Dinner was good but again it was not hot but sat under warming lights I have eaten here and it was better than tonight read more

The thing that got me was the uncleanliness of the joint. Dirty tables everywhere. We were told they won't hire buss staff and leave the cleaning to the waitrons. Lame. The food is fine and our waitress was a gem. read more

Good food, though nothing to blow your skirt up. Service was solid, though, and I really enjoyed my, "Pineapple Painkiller," which was super-sweet (the way I like it). If I was traveling and all that was available were chain restaurants, I'd go back; pretty good. read more

For a chain restaurant, I don't think NYAJ is all that bad. This location leaves a lot to be desired, however. Our server, did not give us name, was okay but had to come back to our table because he forgot what I ordered. On the positive side, he offered a wise wine choice. Steak tips were inconsistently cooked, and spinach very salty. Jambalaya was good though. Chocolate mousse cake came to our table frozen (with frost on the cake). You can bet I will go back to NYAJ again, but sure as shootin' not to Acton. read more

Used to be decent, but the quality of the food here is now poor and remains somewhat overpriced. I had a burger and a side salad. The salad was $6.99 and had so little lettuce that there was more plate visible than food. The burger was fine other than the bun, which was old and stale. The service is very good, actually, and I probably should have complained and given them the opportunity to fix things, but I don't want to get into a long back-and-forth when I go out to eat. I just want to enjoy good food. I probably won't be back... read more

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

NYAJ in Acton has a LOT going for it. For instance - there are only a handful of sit-down restaurants that you'd actually want to eat in here - and even fewer with good food, good bar, and good service. To take things further, NYAJ has better pizza than (so far, all that I have tried) anyone in town. I hate that fact - but fortunately I very much like NYAJ's pies, when cooked properly (MUST order them 'well done'). Their monthly specials always bring something new for food and beverage - they feature some great local beers, which always makes me happy. March had Cottrell Old Yankee Ale, which was on the beer menu at my wedding. They always have other winners like Dogfish Head on tap, as well. Then there's that bread and oil. That luscious, onion-y foccacia that *always* ruins their chances of selling me an appetizer - though the app's menu always has mouth-watering options. While the Acton location has somewhat unpleasant decor, and a pretty awful parking situation, they make up for it with an almost guaranteed good meal that is tasty and affordable. And if you want dessert.. Peanut. Butter. Thing. Mmmm. read more

Randomly chose this place online for lunch while visiting family in the area. 5 stars - food was fantastic! Highly recommend. So glad we stumbled upon this place for lunch. read more

I met up with an old friend who lives around the corner. We had much to catch up on, so the food was incidental. I had a nice quahog appetizer - maybe a bit too breadcrumby. Flounder for a main course - interesting with some orange segments. The balance was a bit off though. Too acid/bitter for the delicate fish. The star was the beverage - a raspberry/lime rickey - non-alcoholic. Raspberry puree, lime juice and soda water. Very refreshing. Service was good - open and friendly. The place didn't blow me away, but it was certainly competent. read more

As a San Francisco foodie; I enjoyed Not Your Average Joe's. The bratwurst plate comes with a pile of stringy french fries perfectly fried. The bratwurst was fine quality and tasted yummy and the roll was too. I ordered a side salad with crusted almonds. It was a spring salad with a candied pecan's, fresh raspberrieds and a tangy sweet raspberry dressing. Bratwurst plate $9.99 and side salad $6.00 Wine selection: appeared very good selection. Customer service: really good. Parking: ez. read more

A fun place with a cool vibe that serves up tasty food -- exactly what we were looking for on a recent date night in Acton. I likes that they do carafes of wine (perfect for when you want more than a glass but less than a bottle) and the menu is both unique and mouthwatering. I had a hard time choosing what I wanted to order: steak frites? Crab cake BLT? Chicken parm tower with spaghetti squash? Flatbread pizza? Yes please! We ended up splitting the pulled pork pretzel bites (seriously good and perfect for sharing), my husband ordered the jambalaya, and I had the chicken Cobb. My salad was fairly typical but what stood out to me was how good the bacon was. I didn't even need dressing because it was so flavorful. And the free bread with dipping sauce exceeded the hype. The place was packed on a Friday night but they take OpenTable reservations. We will be back for sure. read more

Great atmosphere, interesting menu & some great food. The focaccia and Romano-olive oil dip was a great beginner - chunks of soft, garlicky focaccia was wonderful. The chowder was very flavorful with plenty of sweet clams. I opted for a salad (since I was lo-cal to this point) - the Super Crunchy Salad...quinoa, green apple, avocado, grilled chicken and greens with an interesting orange-sesame dressing. If you are ever in Acton, MA, don't miss this spot! read more

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We were in Acton and stopped here. The food was great, especially the clam chowder!! We all enjoyed the meal and the desserts. The waitress was great. Overall a great place to go. read more

Don't do it. Reviews are mixed, so we decided to try Not Your Average Joes again for lunch. Maybe it had improved since last visits long ago. It was a mistake. While the chicken nacho appetizer was tasty, it was lukewarm and cold. Even the "made to order" cooked chicken. My side salad looked ugly with a brown dressing, the cucumber was limp, and the greens were turning. My boyfriend got the chicken BLT, which was more like a club, but at least it was warm. But on top of this the service was AWFUL. Our waitress was unfriendly and negligent, leaving dirty dishes on our table and not refilling glasses. So thorough was her ineptitude that I believe it must be bad training at the restaurant. Just an all around unpleasant meal. Will not return again. read more

I have been eaten lunches at Not Your Average Joe's at this location several times already. (Mostly with my coworkers) So far I really enjoyed the food served here, the environment and food selections were all good. I love their bread and garlic sauce. Recommend it to folks around the area :) read more

Kid's meals (Mac n Cheese and Steak Tips) portion and quality were good. Avoid the calamari. For $11, get an entree instead. The portion was terribly tiny and the calamari was little also. Vietnamese Flounder: the taste was special and good, but it was overwhelming after a few bites. They perhaps put too much Vietnamese fish sauce in it - I felt like drinking MSG as I got very thirsty soon after. Glazed Salmon and the mango salsa was good. I'd try this dish again. Clam chowder: average. Bread was good. read more

Great food, love the drinks. Waitstaff hit or miss. The servers and bar tenders I've had gotten to know are wonderful and go above and beyond. They take time to really get to know their guest. Ashley ( bar tender) awesome!!! Same with Mark who works on the floor or in the bar area. The oyster specials on Monday are wonderful along w the drink specials.!! I'm glad they have kept this deal around read more

Not Your Average Joe's - Acton - Oyster special on Monday - New American Near Me - Acton, Massachusetts

I've never tasted a pizza that, hyperbole aside, tasted like absolutely nothing... that was until I ate a pizza from NYAJ's in Acton. Fine if you absolutely must but I'd seek to go elsewhere if possible. read more

I love the veggie spring rolls as well as the focaccia bread. My other go-to entree is the haddock. I've had consistent success with these two selections. They can also whip up funky creative versions of well known cocktails. Great place to sit at the bar and take in a game on the big screen TV's. read more

The thin crust pizza was watery and soft as a wet rag. The three toppings consisted of Sausage, Mushroom, and roasted Red Peppers. The filling was left on the pizza pan just trying to get it onto my plate. The manager told me this is how their thin crust pizzas are made. I have eaten a lot of pizza, but not this soft. I requested a new pizza with more time cooked to firm up the crust and it was much better the second time around. Bottom line is if your expecting firm crust, you better ask for it. read more

This was my favorite restaurant until I decided to go on a Friday night. Waitress ignored questions we asked, took over 20 minutes before she even came over to us after we sat down, and by the time I finally got my meal it was ice cold and the steak looked (and tasted) as if it were days old. And my boyfriend almost ate the shrimp tails in his jumbalya! Went back to give it another shot and it was disappointing. 20% off take out on home team game day but they didn't take off the discount even after we confirmed. Chicken fingers and fries were the blandest I've ever tasted. And we ordered nachos take out which is the worst idea EVER. So soggy. Completely inedible ! I had their steak goat cheese salad though which was delicious and we got a steak sandwich which was also very good. Doesn't outweigh the rest though. Won't be returning to the Acton location, it's the only place I've ever had an issue. read more