Great unpretentious vibe, solid takes on American cuisine, and reasonable drink prices to boot.

My friend and I stopped by for dinner after she traveled hours to get here to visit. It wasn't worth the stop. We shared some street corn and the chips were over cooked and greasy. I had a Cesar salad that had chunks of the ends of the lettuce - annoying. And whatever seasoning that was on the chicken didn't go with the vibe of the salad and was dry as a bone. My friend ordered seared scallops which came thrown on top of a cartoon like pile of fries. She didn't have time to complain because the waitress was out to ask us how it was before we had a bite (the runner brought the food). When she finally came back to ask if we needed boxes - my friend explained the issues with the inedible scallops. The waitress said the owner was there and would come talk to us. The owner didn't come out, a manager never came, and the waitress dropped the bill off and walked away. She came back with the machine to run cards - no apology, no please come back another time ... nothing. I am from Maynard and was embarrassed that this is what happened. read more

My husband and I go down occasionally and we visit with Alexis. She makes an awesome espresso martini and she's fun to chitchat with. Thank you, Alexis. read more

Arriving for a concert right down the street from the venue, 6:30 with a show at 8, dinner was called for, simple one page menu. Disappointment soon settled in as chowder was not available, stuck with lighter options, chose the watermelon salad. Super crunch, fresh arugula too. No beer/liquor needed tonight, stuck with the water. Waiter was very attentive from being seated to paying for the tab. Street parking is the best bet. Nice and quiet, no need to raise your voice to talk with your friends. read more

Stopped for lunch after the movies, Had some wings & a burger. Food was prepared perfectly and served up pretty quick! They have a great selection of draft beer. Well worth the stop & try if you're in downtown Ayer read more

Great food drinks and service always. Cute little classic Maynard spot and vibey ambiance always read more

The Pleasant Cafe - Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls - Sports Bars Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

Absolutely great old school restaurant love the red sauce Italian dishes, sea food, and everything else.

We had the Salmon and also Fish and Chips. Great service and the food was good. My wife loved vegetables and rice sides. I had the F&C's chips were good, fish was perfectly cooked. Great atmosphere and our server was great. read more

Swung in on a Cold winter evening. Had a delicious Mexican style fried chicken salad that hit the spot. The service spot on. We arrived during a shift change but both servers were very attentive and had great demeanors! Will love to go back and try other items on their menu. read more

Been coming off and on for a few years. On Patriot's Day 2024 I had the best Buffalo tenders ever seen on planet Earth. Perfect on the inside and out, with sauce that was not overwhelming. The waitress stated that they are marinated in buttermilk for a long while, and they were perfection. Ordered the Big Mack as well (a similar rendition of the big chain's product) which was sensational. The fries were also noteworthy. Hard to get a good firm outside and soft inside. The waitress was terrific. Good selection of draught beer. Pleasant should make note of their current chef. He's a keeper. read more

The Pleasant Cafe - Buffalo tenders. - Sports Bars Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

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First time at the Pleasant cafe and it absolutely lives up to its name. There is a chill vibe to the whole place and the music isn't too loud. The staff is so kind and the service is quick. I started with the soft pretzels and dip, which were warm and buttery and perfect I could not stop snacking on them throughout the meal. As for the main dish I got the roast beef with au jus, and some fries. The fries are my favorite kind, thick and crunchy but not too oily and the sandwich was phenomenal. The bread has a nice crust but soft center and the meat was just melt in your mouth delicious. I believe it was one of the chefs who brought it out to me and he was so charming! I am absolutely going to make this a regular spot when I have some extra going out money. read more

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I'm not sure what happened but the menu is a disaster. Overpriced, poor execution, poor presentation. Beer menu, outside of an Amory's selection, is almost all IPAs. Poorly trained waitstaff. Water delivered to table was warm (warmer than room temp). My spouse said "this place is dead to me". read more

Oh yeah, "Maynard". And oh yes, "The Pleasant Cafe". Local area folk have gotten used to the question "where is Maynard", while all know every town around (Concord, Acton, Sudbury, Stow, etc). But one of the timeless gems in little Maynard is the Pleasant Café. Owned and in the same family For decades, it's the place to grab a beer on tap, watch the game on a plethora of TVs, it's right in the midst of downtown Maynard (walk around, walk the area), has outdoor seating and the food! Now, do I wish sometimes that "old pleasant cafe" returned and donned the 5 dollar Tuesday cheeseburger with the 3 dollar PBR, YES! However, the menu has gone a much welcomed improvement and gentrification in the last few years, and the food is GREAT! Classic Americana in a three piece suit. Everything is flavorful, good portions, and cooked well. read more

The Pleasant Cafe - Pleasant Cafe outdoor dining in downtown Maynard - Sports Bars Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

This place is a joke. My wife and I and my kids went in. Way wife and I got a burger and my kids split the kids chicken meal. Portion sizes for $19 for a burger are crazy - I thought there would be more food. I ordered mine medium well. Came out pink. My wife wanted medium and she got medium well. Waitress never checked on us and took over 15 minutes until she asked, Are you waiting for the check? $63 bucks and a tip for crappy food and crappy service. I'm sure the McDonalds up the street has better service. read more

Don't know where to begin... Let's see a smallish, not particularly fresh, chopped Caesar salad for $20???? Clam chowder, again on the small side, clearly out of the Sysco bag, not particularly fresh tasting either... $16. Small order of fish and chips, fish was burnt fries, not crispy, $26. "Grilled cheese with prosciutto and apples" 2 tiny slices of apple, no prosciutto at all that we could see, gobs of gross, flavorless cheese. Did I mention that the beer on "special" was clearly the bottom of the keg, flat and played out...yuck. Worst meal I've had dining out in a while. NEVER again. read more

Amazing AS ALWAYS! Jen our server was above and beyond the best. Super personable, kind, warm smile and very attentive. I had the Italian chicken sandwich...anytime it's on the menu I always get. If it's not on the menu there usually is another pesto sandwich and I always get it. Love pesto and The PC doesn't disappoint with the flavors! One request, serve dinner until 9pm atleast on Fri/Sat nights read more

We've been here twice and I think this is a very cool spot overall, the people are super-friendly and it's got a nice atmosphere. Food has been yummy every time, particularly the salads and tater tots, you can't go wrong! My friends also got the French dip and cheeseburger, both of those were good as well. Portions are generous. It's a very reasonably priced place and they've got an excellent selection of beers, and it's right in downtown Maynard. There's a bit of a wait on the weekends and they don't take reservations, but that's fairly typical most places nowadays. The only bone I have to pick with Pleasant are the menus and checks, or lack thereof -- menus are looked at on your phone only, and there are no printed bills/checks, they bring over an iPhone. I get that it's probably more convenient (and sustainable), but it's kind of shady to not have 1. A printed check that you can look over and make sure is correct, and 2. Privacy while you are paying your check, as the waitress is standing there while you process your card and add the tip, etc. And the service was excellent, they got a great tip each time, so that's not the issue -- it's just awkward and I'm not a fan. Therefore, I have to deduct a star. Other than that, pretty much can't be beat. read more

Ive been here a few times and always enjoyed it. The food seems like it is actually prepared with a level of care. The staff is always decent as well. I like sitting outside in good weather. This place is no palace inside but the food and staff make up for it read more

I had a bourbon chicken breast sandwich with Parmesan truffle fries with a side of bacon aioli. Splendidly tasteful. I sat outside under the cover of umbrellas as the sunshine and cool breeze surrounded me. I had a wonderfully tasty cocktail called Delicious S'Mores: espresso vodka, coffee liqueur, cold brew concentrate, toasted marshmallow syrup, crumbled Graham cracker rim, jumbo marshmallow garnish. The bartender/server Alexis was attentive and perceptive with a lovely sense of humour. read more

The Pleasant Cafe - Bourbon chicken breast sandwich with Parmesan truffle fries and a Delicious S'Mores cocktail. - Sports Bars Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

Maybe the service at the restaurant is OK and it's a nice place to probably have a drink, but not for the food. This is not a cheap place; it's overpriced and, at best, mediocre. I ordered two bowls and sheet nachos for delivery. The delivery was great, no issues, but the food was another story. The Chicken Gyro bowl was a bland, charred piece of chicken over mushy rice with scattered slices of cherry tomatoes and olives. The "Grilled" Teriyaki Shrimp bowl was cold, as in out-of-the-fridge cold. The rice was also mushy, and the shrimp tasted like rubbery cocktail shrimp left in the fridge for too long. The sheet nachos were an abomination--a handful of nachos, less than a bag of Tostitos. The chips themselves were hard and meh. The sour cream was watery. The guacamole was somehow sweet. The congealed "cheese" "sauce" you're supposed to add over the nachos was gross. Also, who puts mango in nachos? Hard pass. I know we're supposed to support local businesses to keep a thriving town, but I gave this place three tries, and none of them was good. I need to put this review out there because the food was so bad it made an already bad day worse. If you try it, beware. read more

Went here Saturday night had about three cocktails. And Tito's this fucking place is amazing. Great booze keep serving the good ones. I'll be back there this Saturday. read more

Incredibly overpriced fish and chips! They are at least $10 higher than every place in the area and the serving size was disappointing. My aunt is in Maynard and was craving fish and chips. We have ordered a few times for her, since august, and she enjoyed the meal (albeit overpriced) We ordered her take-out early on Christmas Eve, lunchtime and the meal ($30) was 3 very small pieces of fish and some fries Unfortunately they are the only place in town, save your money and drive to Acton, Hudson, Marlboro for a better dinner read more

Just awful salad with tomato ends. Dried day old bread for croutons. Blue chicken. Owner is missing with the new restaurant in Ayer. Come back and get the ship back on track. Service was good except the kitchen took 30 minutes for wings. read more

The Pleasant Cafe - Bad tomatoes who eats the ends?? - Sports Bars Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

Briefly. The Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich was otherworldly, and the classic burger was more than classic. Our server, Annalee, was special too. read more

This place has a nice location in downtown and some outdoor seating. The bar reminded me of an old Boston pub. The food was pretty good but I thought had a high price markup for just pub food and the beer seemed a little flat. read more

The Pleasant Cafe - Bar - Sports Bars Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

Your average bar food and a good place to grab a beer and watch a game. Just noticed they put an outside patio together in the front where parking use to be. read more

Great food and drinks. I like the outdoor patio, jsut not fond of it being on the street. Other than that great place for eat in or take out. Staff is friendly and attentive as well. read more

**An Unforgettable Experience at The Pleasant Cafe: A Culinary Triumph with Jen L!** From the moment I stepped through the door of The Pleasant Cafe, I knew I was about to embark on an extraordinary gastronomic journey. The ambiance? Nothing short of enchanting. setting the stage for what would be an experience I'll never forget. But let's be clear: the true star of this evening was neither the delicate decor nor the charming rustic furniture--it was, without a doubt, the impeccable service provided by *Jen L*. Now, if you've ever had the fortune of being served by Jen L, you'll know that she is not just a waitress--oh no, she is a culinary concierge, a maestro orchestrating the perfect dining symphony. From the very first moment she greeted us with a smile that could melt the iciest of hearts, it was clear we were in for something special. Her warmth and genuine enthusiasm were as contagious as the aroma of the freshly baked bread that wafted through the air. Every interaction felt like a personal touch, a promise that the evening was going to be nothing less than spectacular. And then, the food. Oh, the food! Each dish that arrived at the table was a masterpiece. The flavors were so perfectly balanced, so artfully presented, it felt like we were dining in a five-star Michelin restaurant. I ordered the signature roast, and it was a revelation. Tender, succulent, and bursting with flavors that danced on my palate like a symphony of spices. Each bite left me more in awe than the last. Jen L's recommendations were spot on--her extensive knowledge of the menu ensured that every choice we made was a winner. Not once did she steer us wrong. In fact, every suggestion she made felt like a secret, an insider tip only she could offer. It was as if she could peer into my soul and know exactly what my taste buds desired before I even knew it myself. As the evening came to a close, Jen L left us with a parting gift: the ultimate cherry on top of a flawless experience--a perfectly paired dessert and a promise that we would return. And return we shall. To say that The Pleasant Cafe exceeded my expectations would be an understatement. The food, the atmosphere, and the service were a harmonious trifecta of excellence. But Jen L? She is the heartbeat of this restaurant. The Pleasant Cafe is lucky to have her, and as a diner, I feel lucky to have experienced the magic of her service. If you're looking for a dining experience that will leave you breathless and craving more, make a reservation at The Pleasant Cafe--and when you do, ask for Jen L. You won't regret it. read more

Overpriced. Poor service. Old watermelon. Asked for space between our apps and meals and was assured by the server this would happen - it didn't. Got both one right after the other. Smash burger was just a burger, undercooked. $82 and I couldn't even eat my meal. Very disappointed. read more

I've been here a few times but every time I visit I'd forget to write my review- so here it is. I love PC's burgers. It's hands down the juiciest burger you'll taste this side of MA. I've had to get healthier lately, so my main course was the salmon with rice pilaf and broccoli- it was simply delicious. The flavor on the salmon and sides were phenomenal. We got chicken wings (please keep in mind that the pic that I uploaded was missing a chicken wing or two bc we were starving and had a few before I took the pic lol) and it was crispy and delicious. I got a sangria and it was delicious. The topping on the cake was our waitress, Lisa C., she is awesome! She was nice, supportive and made sure that got everything that we needed (very promptly might I add) for a fine dining experience. The ambiance was great as we love having booth seating, and Lisa brought out a nice slice of cake for my son's birthday. Thank you for such a wonderful dining experience- we will definitely be back soon. read more

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I'm not entirely sure how I stumbled on this place but I'm glad I did. I've been here twice and the food is excellent. There's not a large menu but what they make, they make well! The beer and drink selection is large so there's something for everyone. The atmosphere is more like an upscale dive bar vibe if that's a thing? I like it here and will be back for sure.. Honorable mentions: The owner Frank is lovely, very nice guy.. and the bar staff is friendly. They have patio seating And finally it's nice and clean inside! Check it out read more

The Pleasant Cafe - The Taco Truck - Sports Bars Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

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Food and service were both very good, a bit pricey for the size of the side dishes, they look like they could be from a food truck instead of a fancy restaurant. read more

The Pleasant Cafe - Fish and chips with coleslaw side - Sports Bars Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

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My son and I had lunch a couple of weeks ago. The food and service were good, no complaints. What really surprised me were the prices. Our bill was $92 including 20% gratuity. I had a southwestern salad with chicken and water. My son had a flatbread and 2 beers. $92 for lunch?!! I know food prices are higher, but this is just not sustainable. read more

Hoping I can establish myself as a regular at the pleasant café. Friendly staff, amazing, food, and a solid beer list. Great vibe. It's the kind of place we need more of. A comfortable hang every time you come. I will be back frequently and really appreciate this part of the planet. read more

For these prices just go to the closest 99, the food will be the same, but you won't leave wondering if you just got robbed. Service was great, vibe was fine, it's Maynard. read more

First time here . Had lunch at the bar. Shawna-Lee was my server/ bartender. She was wonderful. Ordered Pinot Grigio that was delicious, followed by the chicken sandwich that was the BEST!! Very nice experience. read more

The last time I visited was during the summer. Wow what an incredibly strange experience this was, even weirder than last summer when there was actual wait-service. To be fair, up front, the food was fairly good with good portions. That is not a trivial point. However, what I learned here (which was surprising to me) was that the food isn't everything, particularly when it was overpriced and the service is minimal. These people have the idea that service should be automated (read: make the customer do some work). Everything (food and drinks) is done thru an app, even when the bartender is a couple feet away. So, a phone and navigating apps is required to eat in a restaurant now? Seriously? The drinks were obscenely over priced (when you order an old fashioned, you don't expect it to come in a shot glass for $14.00). I was given a tiny napkin and no silverware. Ketchup came in little packets. I assure you it was a much higher tab than a fast food place though. When I asked for a knife, I was given a knife and nothing else. The bartender at least saw that it might have been reasonable to give me a normal sized napkin (he gave me two or three which I appreciated). Someone from the kitchen brought out the food and dropped it off very quickly as though he was trying to avoid an infection. I don't want to blame the bartender and the "server" because I think they are just doing what they are told to do. We were told that all service is done thru the app with nothing to do with the person you were talking to. This makes me wonder who I was tipping, a computer or a person?!? Also, we had to fork over a credit card number before an order was even placed. I visualize the responsible owners sitting in a well-appointed office with an Excel spreadsheet and one eye on a social media feed, constantly trying to figure out how they can squeeze a few more bucks from their margins, increase their social media presence, and minimize human contact. This place was a much more inviting venue a few years ago when there was a more human touch. I won't be back. read more

This place is cool. Really enjoyed my lunch with beers here on Sunday. Had a Boom Sauce and Fiddlehead. Not a lot of places have these beers on tap. I had a burger. It had an egg and hashbrowns and sautéed onions on it. It was good but the patty was a bit charred for my liking. The sweet potato fries were quite good. We started with the tater tots and you should try those. They were smothered with sour cream and a few other toppings. Awesome. The place was clean, with a very nice feel to it. read more

The Pleasant Cafe - Sports Bars Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

Fun atmosphere, remembering the bar it once was, and glad for the change. Food was very good, accommodations for food allergies were easily made and the four of us were very happy. Service was terrific and we had lots of attention from staff. read more

The Pleasant Cafe - Sports Bars Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

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The food is always consistent, if not exactly inventive. The issue is with the prices! $22 for a chicken sandwich is insulting. I want to support local businesses, and understand the complexities of keeping the lights on, but...$22? $15 for kids' menu items? It's jarring to see lower prices for higher quality food in the Back Bay. read more