Not Your Average Joe's - Waltham

Fun spot with a good variety of eats. Food came very quickly. We got the Cape Cod Reuben Sandwich and the Korean Bowl

I’ve been to this location many times and always loved it! Couldn’t wait to come back! However, last night my husband and I had the worst experience and were so disappointed. We had a reservation for 7:45pm and arrived on time. Upon arrival, we were told by the woman at the front that “the restaurant would be closing at 8 because there are not enough people here to stay open”. She told us we were welcome to sit down but we would have to order right away to make the 8pm cutoff, and that as long as we got our food ordered in time, we were welcome to sit and enjoy it for as long as we wanted. We were starving so we decided to sit and eat knowing that the food would be good given past experiences. As anyone who has been here knows, the fresh bread and Parmesan oil is one of the best parts, but I guess since they were closing they gave us cold bread and oil with no Parmesan or spices. We ordered our food before the cutoff and it was very tasty, but this is when we really felt the staff pushing us out. They turned all the TVs off at 8, and turned off the music and turned on all the lights at 8:25pm. A clear sign that we, and the 4 other tables that were still enjoying their meals, were no longer welcome. We finished our food, paid our check, and left as quickly as we could. We were so disappointed and put off by the whole encounter.

I generally like these places. Everything has been consistent at all locations I visit. At this location, I was here for just a couple beers. Great bartender, clean glassware, and cold beer on tap. Can’t ask for more than that!

Had brunch, it was amazing. The french toast and eggs tasted fresh and the vermont syrup, so tasty. The table Foccacia bread at the table was simply outstanding, apparently they bake it fresh everyday. Our server was also attentive and top notch. I can't recommend this stop on your trip enough.

Great location and food. Kenya our server was Wonderful.

Interesting menu with good variety. We chose salads, both excellent. Fresh ingredients, good house made dressing. Beware of the bread and olive oil cheese dip - it's tempting to overdo it. Friendly, efficient service. Nice atmosphere.

We loved it! We were a party of seven, each one had a different dish, and everyone enjoyed what they got. I had a clam chowder which was creamy and chunky, and the cape cod Reuben was extraordinary with delicious haddock fried to perfection, coleslaw and fantastic sauce. The service was spot on, and vibe of the place was chill and classy.

A great restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere! The steak is cooked to perfection and of excellent quality. The service is also incredibly friendly and attentive, making the visit even more enjoyable. A clear recommendation for anyone who appreciates good food and warm hospitality!

Not Your Average Joe's is a great family restaurant. The kids love the little toys they have to entertain them while we wait (little wax sticks to bend into shapes, not just the standard coloring page), and the food is also great. The Ahi tuna wonton appetizer is delicious for seafood eaters, and the bread they bring while you wait for your food is fresh and my absolute favorite. I also really like their pizza, and the veggie burger is also made in-house and quite good. Overall, it's a nice place that is kid-friendly and has a diverse enough menu to please almost everyone.

Absolutely overpriced. $2.00 extra for Brussel sprouts instead of broccoli?? Waiter didnt advise. The steak n cheese egg rolls were.as.much as the nachos?? Th3 portion was tiny.. the clam chowder was $21.90 for two cups?? $4.95 for a cup of coffee.. thieves. Ill never ever go back... The salmon bowl was ok.. not worth the money..how do you charge $10.95 for creme brule? You're not some upscale restaurant..

Got Nachos and a carrot cake. The most god awful carrot cake ever was a freaking sugar bomb from hell. Was basically 1/2 inch sheet of cake no nuts and has 1/2 under and on top seemed like a mix of condescend sweet milk with a hint of cream cheese. This desert was an abomination and should be removed from the menu.

Went there in mid October enticed by October fest menu. Ordered schnitzel with sauce on side. Food arrived with sauce almost dripping off the plate. Replaced with another schnitzel which arrived about 8 minutes later. Meat barely cooked. It basically looked like what an omelet would be if a short order cook was on his first day on the job in a road side diner. My wife's meal quality was poor as well. Sad to see. We used to patronize NYAJ frequently on the past. Food quality has seriously gone down. Also depending on management and this has happened in more than one location service quality is no longer what it was. Done with this chain. Way too much significantly competition out there. Had a good thing, drove it into the ground

It's been a while since I was last here with the parents, but we came back for an easy lunch after a Costco run, and they impressed me by catering to all of our varied requests. The menu is expansive and so is the dining room. I appreciated that they had a gluten friendly menu alongside the regular one. I got the mustard chicken sandwich on a gluten free bun with a side of sweet potato fries. The sandwich was a little dry but a generous portion. They originally brought me regular fries but were happy to bring my original order of sweet potato fries. My parents are particular about their food and asked many questions, which our server graciously answered. They eventually got the turkey special (a riff on Thanksgiving) and the haddock made dairy free. Our server went above and beyond to make sure their orders were correct, and she even exchanged my dad's sweet potato fries for ones that were less burned. The food itself was fine, but the service was exceptional. We will be coming back.

Having passed different locations so many times throughout college, I somehow never ended up trying Not Your Average Joe's until this year. Going here satisfied all cravings for American food and allowed us to catch up with friends we hadn't seen in almost a year. With shareables for the table and different entree options, there were so many things to choose from. My husband and I split the chicken tender and steak tip combo and still talk about it. I was so excited for my leftovers the next day because they were so good. The mashed potatoes hit the spot for what we look for and crave. Now we're wondering do we HAVE to wait till our next trip to Massachusetts for another meal here. We appreciated the service and vibes to allow for a 2-3 hour catch up session amongst friends. I'm now browsing for when it's time for our next craving to try more!

Not a single piece of silverware or plate didn't have the food from someone else. What a health hazard this place is and I would be careful here. The manager was really not overly sympathetic and it took finding her to address the issues of the night. After much discussion, the check was covered by the restaurant.

It has been years since we have been to a NYAJ's. It was like going back home. The focaccia was just as awesome as usual. For an appetizer, we ordered the Bang Bang Shrimp to share. It was our only disappointment. The shrimp were overcooked like rubber. We should have sent them back. But then we would have to worry about our entrees. For our meal, my husband and I both ordered the small pizzas. I had the shrimp scampi pizza but added bacon, and it was delish! My husband got the "make your own" and was quite satisfied with the result. Our server was very sweet. I forgot her name. Otherwise, I would give her a shoutout. She provided great customer service. We will return the next time we are in the area. Lastly, this location has a lovely outdoor patio. If you are looking to dine Al fresco, this is the place for you. Next time, we will share the awesome "Peanut Butter Thing!"

Great location to meet at. Nice space, nice people. Had a wonderful -fish- Reuben, forget what it was called, very good fries.

Great food and the ambience is such a surprise! The waitresses had excellent service and I would definitely come back!

This restaurant has become overpriced- 5 small pieces of seared tuna and a few leaves of lettuce $27. The waiter said the would let the manager know. We never heard from them. Luckily my husband got a lot of mashed potato with his meatloaf so I had something to eat. Used to be my go-to restaurant. Not anymore

We eat here every 6 weeks when visiting older parents. As always dinner was great, but I think the price line has been crossed beyond what I would call casual dining. I would call his a special occasion place now. On top of that there were only 1 or 2 waiters for the entire restaurant on a Saturday night.

Very shady restaurant! I gave an OK tip for a very subpar service. Our group waited for 30 minutes for their server to take orders. We could not find our server whenever we need any service. I checked my credit card and was charged $203. I was lucky to take pictures of my receipt and with tip, it was $197. They secretly added additional $6 for tips. This is very very shady.... Just don't go to this dishonest restaurant. Or if you have to go, check your receipt and your credit card statement.

I got the habanero chicken tenders. They were really good. The pineapple on top was Cold, which is a strange choice lol but other than that I liked it. The bread appetizer was good.

Food was awesome but the service was even better. One of the best old fashions I've ever had. Definitely will be coming back!

Great service - Manager and Hostess were awesome - Cheese Burger and French Fries had a great flavor.

The waitress poured an ENTIRE GLASS OF WINE down my friend's head (by accident for sure). I will say they apologized and tried to help but what really shocked me is still being charged for that wine.... I've worked in the hospitality industry my entire adult life and if my staff or I did that I would treat that guest as VIP for the rest of their time at my establishment. I understand not your average joes is a more casual place but at the end of the day I would expect them to want to at least not charge us for that. We essentially paid for my friends wine bath. On top of that my chicken piccata was dry and gross. I love not your average joes but will be thinking twice before returning to one of their locations.

Amazing food! Don't live nearby but would definitely come here again if I was in the area! Great service!!

We went to the NYAJ in Waltham today. We ordered a coke each and received their wonderful bread. I ordered the Caribbean chicken tenders and a sandwich. My wife ordered a salad. Our table was being covered by the bartender. She was very nice but was too far away from her assigned tables. My tenders were take a long time to arrive so I asked another wait person to check on them. She responded that the kitchen was backed up!! There was hardly anyone in the place.Soon they arrived but were over cooked and very dry. My wife wanted E to send them back, but I was too hungry to wait for another order. It was taking a very long time for our salad and sandwich to arrive so.... I paid for our drinks and chicken tenders as well as an undeserved tip and walked out. The two people at front desk couldn't care left when we told them were leaving because of the poor service! I won't be back!! !!!

Bread is really good, clean restaurant, friendly and helpful waitstaff, entrees we so so. We'd try it again for sure.

We arrived after lunch rush when there were plenty of tables available but as a duo were we seated at a large round table for 6. It was completely ridiculous. Service overall was slow and inattentive. Food was horrible, really horrible. The focaccia bread was stale and dry. Hot coffee I ordered arrived cold. Salad greens were wilted and going bad. The food was poorly prepared and lacking in flavor. As you can tell I was totally disappointed, actually disgusted by my experience at this restaurant. I will never go back and recommend you avoid it at all costs.

Visited Joe's for a late dinner and to watch a college basketball game. Sat at the bar. Was impressed with the service and quality of the food. Reasonable beer selection and cocktails and the ambiance was great. My friends had flatbread and loved them. We also shared the fried cauliflower appetizer and the chicken dumplings, all well done and flavorful. Solid choice for food or drinks.

The food was delicious! We received great service in this kind of upscale casual restaurant. Loved the atmosphere. Large restaurant that seemed like it could accommodate a large group. I highly recommend.

It's sad how much this restaurant has declined over the last several years. I use to dine here quiet regularly but with the food quality decline combined with the price increases, we've found another restaurant. Overall the service is good here as it was yesterday when I had a work lunch. However, the food is quite bland and the portions small for the price. I had a tuna poke bowl. Half of it was literally fried onion pieces on top which I took off. What was left was some rice mixture--very bland!--some tuna and a delicious sauce. The vegetables listed on the menu were virtually not existent. I'm going to check my receipt vs credit card charges, given some written reviews.

Food was OK, nothing exciting, more options are needed, a bit pricey for the portion they give you. The waiter was nice, and made the experience great but I wouldn't go back.

I remember when NYAJ was dynamite, Great food and great value but I think those days are of the past. We went on a Friday night and the place was 1/2 empty. The bread and dipping oil were great as usual however the entrees were just meh. I had the buffalo chicken wrap that came with ONE chicken finger in each wrap. The wrap itself is pizza dough and very thick so basically you're getting a piece of pizza with a chicken inside. The lighting in the Waltham location lends itself like an airport. Bright and loud. Our waitress was pleasant but rushed us out by saying "anything else?" about 10 times.

I would go 3.5 if I could. It's not a 4 but better than a 3 if that resonates. I had the mustard chicken BLT with mixed greens and the creamy cherry vinaigrette dressing. The sandwich was good and the chicken cooked perfectly- not dry at all and the ciabatta was soft and chewy inside and not too hard which seems to happen a lot with that kind of bun. The salad was basic and nothing but a spring mix. I was hopeful the dressing would have more of a vinegar cherry "zing" to it but honestly I didn't taste anything cherry and it was very similar to Caesar dressing which isn't bad but it wasn't what I was expecting. Had a strawberry lime Ricky to drink and it was refreshing. My co worker that I was with had the smoky joe burger and liked it a lot. The fries he had with it were just blah and uneventful. Overall a nice normal solid meal- nothing bad at all but nothing special. Server was attentive and the atmosphere was pleasant

This is an update to my previous review. I was very unhappy the last time I got food from NYAJ. It was a special they had for St. Paddy's Day. A Reuben, and it was takeout. This time I got their seasonal lobster roll and it was yummy! I also ate in person and the service was great! The cocktails were yummy too. I love eating there outside.

Casual atmosphere in a clean environment. The food and drinks are average with average pricing. There are menu choices to suit multiple tastes.

Environment was fine, waitress was nice but didn't ask how we liked the food. The dishes were extremely salty, like the chef had tripled or quadrupled the amount of salt necessary to make it tasty. Not going back.

We followed the rainbow and at the end was "Not Your Average Joe's", a friendly, comfortable bar/ restaurant. Our server Kate was wonderful, friendly and attentive. The Korean BBQ Wings were awesome, Pot Stickers were crispy and flavorful and the Fish and Chips and Korean Beef Bowl were great. You can never lose following the rainbow!

the penne alla vodka with shrimp didn't come soon enough This is very upsetting because i need food quickly or else i get mad. And when i got the food it was disgusting and there was a napkin in my pasta. The waiters were very nice and generous though.

Bread and dipping oil is next level. Today we did dessert for dinner, carrot cake is delicious and the cookie plate was really good as well. Staff always friendly

I had the meatloaf and it was pretty good. They menu is limited, but has some good options. The service was good. Our server had a great attitude and was pretty funny. I like having good interactions with the staff. Makes the visit a little more welcoming.

Yes. This place was not average for me. Below average food. Far below average service. Their attitude is "take what we give you." I STRONGLY recommend to stay away from this below average place.

Stopped in with a seating of five on a early evening and requested outside seating. We were promptly accommodated and given a very nice table on the sunny side of the building. Perfect! Gentle breeze and a nice house Cab, friends, nothing better. Everyone ordered something different and I wanted a salad and stuck with the house garden salad. Wow. Great.. way more than I expected. Fresh, crisp and tasty seasoned dressing on the side. Pair that with the flavorful bread and olive oil and you will be hard pressed to finish everything. I tasted the Pulled pork Mac & Cheese which was good ( Another large portion) which I may definitely try in the future. All in All, a very good experience for this chain restaurant.

I really like this place. I've been coming and ordering take out from the Waltham location for a few years now. There's been definite improvement in some areas - especially the take out. The restaurant itself is nice and clean and they have a nice outside patio, too. The prices have increases though, which I don't like. I like their food, though it's a bit on a plain side. However, they broke my heart recently when they took my favorite sandwich -- The Tuscan Chicken-- off the menu. I'd never been so betrayed in my entire life, but I think the fact that I got addicted to the lemon aioli they put in it has something to do with it. They did replace it with a Chicken Caprese sandwich, but it's just not the same (tastes good though)... that lemon aioli was like crack to me. I even always asked for extra. I'm boycotting until they bring it back, or maybe starting a petition, maybe both. EDIT: OMG, I was mostly kidding around about boycotting or starting a petition, but Jimmie from Guest Relations reached out to the restaurant and they said that I can make a special request that they'll honor. I'm so excited.

Had a pleasant birthday dinner with a large group of friends here. Drinks and food were well done, service was timely, but a little flustered by the large group, no big deal. Would have appreciated some birthday candles or something/a comped dessert when we mentioned it was 2 of our birthdays. All in all pretty good for a chain, but could use a little charm

Looking for a place to drink a cold one and watch the game (dolphins and patriots). Good atmosphere, but not to many TV screens. The bar area is the best place to sit. The food was ok but the wait staff needs a kick in the ass. I would had gave it 5stars if our food didn't take so long and if the staff was on point. I hate when I have to ask for my waiter to bring me another drink or refill my water.

Ever since I found out that there's a NYAJ near my workplace, I come here 2-3x a month. The only downside is that the menu feels sparse to me. I remember the days pre-covid they'd have 6ish types of burgers and other monthly items. Nowadays, I just settle for a burger and add caramelized onions to it. Did try their poke bowl once, it was filling, but definitely not a fan of quinoa. As for COVID protocol, social distancing is enforced and thanks to the current weather, you can now sit outside!

The Waltham location of this predominantly New England restaurant chain, is modern, clean and comfortable with a large open kitchen in the rear of the room. The food and service were both very good (the burger was excellent). Be aware the beer list (bottles in particular) is led by Anheuser Bush products which are currently an issue for conservative / patriotic beer drinkers. My dinning partners were very happy with the tasty cocktails and the craft beers available on tap.

We started with an unsweetened iced tea, a housemade lemonade, and a pomegranate passion martini, all of which were deliciously refreshing. I had a turkey avocado club with sweet potato fries, which was tasty and enough for leftovers to take home! The mustard-crusted chicken BLT sandwich with sweet potato fries was great. The cobb salad was good too. Of course, the best part is the focaccia bread and parmesan oil dip! The service is friendly and attentive, and our booth was comfortable and charming. They also have a nice, large, open bar area that we look forward to visiting in the future. (visited 6/6/21 and 7/31/18)

My coworkers and I came here for a farewell lunch on a Thursday afternoon. It wasn't too busy yet, we didn't call for a reservation even though we had at least 10 people. But they were very accommodating and were able to seat us right away and took great care of our party. The food was as expected at a Not Your Average Joes. I absolutely love their burgers here, although during this visit my coworker and I both opted for a lunch item the Pecan-Sage Pesto Salmon. And I'm so glad I did! The salmon was cooked perfectly and was over Brussels sprouts and a chipotle sweet potato mash. The sweet potato mash was delicious and I loved the pesto and flavors over the salmon. Our waitress (I wish I remembered her name) was great. She brought out the bread ASAP and she seemed very attentive, there were no complaints at all. She remember exactly what everyone got even when she handed out everyone's bill. I am giving this a review 5 stars because there was really nothing I could pick on during our visit. The food had met my expectations and the wait staff was great.

"Below Average Joe's". Service was good. Food was less than average. The Mustard Parmesan chicken was beaten to amazing flatness and was so dry you could almost choke on it if water wasn't nearby.

Stopped in on a short road trip with my bf. Pleasantly surprised with the food, the sweet potato fries were really good. Our server Nina was very detailed with the menu and in response to any questions we had.

I've been to a few NYAJ's and this one is definitely one of the cooler Ones. Great location and very nice both inside and a very nice outdoor seating area. I got the Buffalo Caribbean chicken tender appetizer as a meal and it was so good!! Spicy, but not too much and so full of flavor! The pineapple salsa was so good too! The complimentary bread and oil appetizer is so good too!

Service was really good. Food was not too impressed. We ordered the New England Clam Chowder, but there was not much clam meat to be found. We also ordered the chicken salad but the chicken had no taste.

Nope. No way. We were two tables of 20 that visited last night (parents table and a high school Kids table), and we ordered one of most everything on the menu. Some dishes were fine, others were overly sparse, and some were outright disgusting. * "Dinner portion" of nachos were served on a bread plate (and tasted industrial at best). *The chicken that was added to my daughter's salad was waterlogged and tasted like like it came straight of of the can. * The guy next to me had a burger that was absurdly small and rubbery (I've had better frozen microwave burgers from Costco or my kid's little league baseball park). * I ordered the seared tuna on cucumbers which was surprisingly fine. But here is the kicker.... while many of us would have been fine to chalk this restaurant up as a "loss" and simply we never go back (and not leave negative feedback), the MANAGER came by our table to throw some salt on our wounds and stir the pot. The waitress must have overheard us joking and laughing about some of the dishes, so that's why the MANAGER decided to visit our table. He specifically came to talk to my buddy who had the awful burger; and the manager comically proceeds to go on the attack and try to defend the awful burger (which was great entertainment to watch transpire). Bottom line, I would not go out of my way to write a negative review if it were not for the fact that an overly incompetent manager escalated a a situation with confrontation- more specifically, confrontation with having to have the last word. In summary, way too many good food choices in the area to ever go to this place. While the hostess and waitresses were great, the food was mediocre at best. But again, the reason for this ONE STAR REVIEW is mostly because the manager felt it to be necessary to confront, escalate and politely argue with my buddy sitting beside me. Rant over.

Great place to go with gluten and dairy free people. They have a huge menu. So people go get your free gluten-free endless bread dipped in olive oil! I got the gluten free burger and the gluten free turkey! Both are worth coming back.