We were staying at a nearby hotel and were starving. I was dying to try a lobster roll and was excited to see this on the menu. We get there and I stupidly didn't even look at the menu for other options because I was so excited to try a lobster roll. Lo and behold, they were sold out! I was pretty heart broken. I settled for ribs and the husband got fish and chips. The food was pretty average and not that great. One thing we noticed that seemed a little weird was when we first arrived it was pretty empty, yet there seemed to be a lot of noise? It was almost as if they music had background chatter to give off a more energetic vibe. Also we were seated near the kitchen entrance and many times a ton of the severs were all gathered around it talking to each other and neglecting the patrons. The only thing that seemed to "sweeten"up this meal was the cookie skillet. Basically, an average bar and grill that tries to come off as top notch, but falls short.
(2)
Haleigh R.
Excellent service, the meal was delicious and made to perfection. Very accommodating for people with Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Vivian C.
This Joe's American Bar & Grill is located at South Shore Plaza by the Cheesecake Factory. I've driven or walked by many a Joe's - the one located by the water, the one on Newbury Street, and that one in Dedham - but never have I stopped, nor did I know that there was one at this mall. But many of the mall's stores' rolling grilles had been pulled down, and the lights in the plaza itself were dimming, and we had yet to eat, so in we walked. First off, the service we received was exceedingly good. I suspect that it may have been the manager himself serving us as one of the few parties dining that late in the dinner shift. He was generous with the extras we requested such as the lemon and lime wedges and the honey mustard, and made it evident to us that it was his pleasure to serve us with each interaction. Second, the food (on average) was really good, starting off with the full loaf of bread with the pleasantly crackly crisp crust protecting a soft center, served up with two swirls of soft butter. Two of us decided to share two different sandwiches. Our server took it upon himself to have them plated separately for us, which was quite considerate. Joe's Signature Burger $15 bbq sauce, crispy pork belly, white cheddar, maple cajun bacon jam, house cured pickles, arugula was a delicious, juicy mess. Prime Rib French Dip $15 shaved prime rib, horseradish creme fraiche, beef jus was tasty though a bit too soft. I prefer a contrast of textures, such as a crisper roll if the filling is on the soft and tender side. Both sandwiches came with our choice of fries or sweet potato fries for no extra charge. No question there - sweet potato fries all the way! A much easier choice than which entree. And their s.p. fries were really good! Sure they weren't particularly nor consistently crisp, but the natural sweet root flavor shined through. For a touch of green, I added an order of a side of garlic sauteed broccoli $3(?). It was on the small side, and the florets a bit more tender than I like it, but I could taste the garlic. I also sampled a DC's Blackened Chicken Fusilli $16 fusilli, blackened chicken, escarole, roasted red peppers, parmesan sauce. While the chicken was tender (with a bit of heat - it was blackened afterall!), and the sauce tasty, I found the pasta a bit too soft from overcooking. Bathrooms are located downstairs, and our booth was raised a single step.
(4)
Matthew M.
I was looking for a good meal tonight, and I found it here, though the service was slightly lacking. Nothing quite as bad as other reviewers, but not what I expect from a place like this, charging the prices they are charging. My main issues were with the beginning and the end of the experience. After getting to the restaurant around 5:45 pm on a Wednesday evening, I was promptly seated, but then waited 4-5 minutes before my waitress came by or even acknowledged me. There was a party of 6 nearby, but the entire section was basically empty except for them, so this was somewhat surprising. Once she came by, though, she was friendly, and her service was prompt. I ordered the short rib meatloaf, which was UH-MAZING, and beautifully presented, as well. It also came out very quickly, which I liked. The meal was a beautiful combination of the savory meat and potatoes and the sweet red cabbage. I loved it. At the end of the meal, my waitress dropped the check off, and, admittedly, I didn't immediately put my card in for payment. She swung by once before I put the card in, and that was the last time I ever saw her. After a long time of waiting (the check book was standing with the card sticking out of the top, and everything) some OTHER waitress asked if I wanted to pay and took care of the rest. They were a bit busier by then, but I still found this bizarre. Overall, the food was great, the section on the menu seemed great, and the service was just "above average". I certainly wouldn't avoid this place in the future unless this is a trend. 4 out of 5 due to bizarre service.
(4)
Rogaa S.
I'm sure it's probably not like this all the time.. but for my first time, not good at all We got this 80 degree weekend in late September out of no where in New England which is always a welcomed sight. but when our bodies are starting to acclimate to the temps of 60s low 70s that weekend just felt super hot and so indeed in side was hot as hell.. no A/C blowing fans nothing just doors and windows open but it didn't make a difference. Onto the food.. started with nachos, spinach artichoke dip and boneless buffalo. all very good. I'd say for a chain their spinach artichoke is by far the best i've had. I got the Joe american burger i think its called ? Its their signature burger so you cant miss it. It has pork belly, maple Cajun bacon, BBQ honestly the thing sounds amazing. food came out and as soon as i picked it up i could just feel all the grease soaked into the bottom bun. I could literally squeeze grease out, disgusting others in my party had gotten it too some were a little greasy some weren't at all so i can only assume mine finished first and sat under a heat lamp for a bit, while the others finished cooking, which i don't understand because why weren't they all done at the same time ?? The place wasnt busy at all Need less to say i tried eating it without the buns but i was so disappointed/pissed off that i just wanted to pay and leave. Uncomfortably hot + grease dripping burger = very unhappy customer
(1)
Roberto H.
Why do I keep giving this location opportunities? Every time I've agreed to eat here, I am reminded of why I don't like coming to the Joe's at South Shore Plaza. Today, our server, who has given me less than satisfactory service before, put the final nail in the coffin. I asked for bread after placing our order. Our server replied: "Ok, but it's gonna take 20 minutes." I was slightly taken aback by the response because I had never heard a caveat like that. We decided to cancel our request. Eventually, our food finally came out after a substantial wait. A surprising fact since there were very few diners in the restaurant. Our server asked if I wanted ketchup. I said yes, and that is the last we saw of him. I never got that ketchup. He never came back to refill our drinks. We were on our lunch break and had to return back to work, but we couldn't even ask for our bill. We asked the host, but he said our server would get it for us as soon as he's done with a meeting. We asked two other servers who happened to walk by for our bill so we can leave, but both said that a meeting was taking place and that our server would come by as soon as the meeting was done. Excuse me? A meeting was taking precedence over the diners in their restaurant?? And if this meeting was so important, then why did he even take a table in the first place and why couldn't the host simply print out the bill??? When our server finally came returned to our table, he explained his absence by telling us "the big bosses are here." So you're telling me that "the big bosses" will reprimand you for servicing your customers? After this, I simply no longer wish to give this restaurant another chance.
(1)
Ann L.
Enjoyed a light dinner with three others. The food was tasty and mine in particular which was a Fresh tuna with avocato over salad was very good. Not expensive, and basically bar food. The only negative was that it was very noisy.
(4)
Delroy H.
The service is always subpar however the new menu has some new flavored wether trying. It would be much better if the service was better.
(4)
Mark T.
So I'm at a table I asked the waitress for a joes burger with bacon lattice pickle and mayonnaise so I get my burger it has onions and tomatoes. The burger was disgusting. She asked would i like my burger re-heated or redone. She brigs the freshly done burger without my mayonnaise but everything else is done properly. The burger was pretty unappetizing at this point.
(1)
Michael S.
Just here for drinks as we wait 1.5 hours for our table at cheese cake factory. Service very good, opened fresh bottle of wine. No wait and great service. Beer selection is weak but serviceable. Calling cheese cake factory to see if they will deliver. Didn't have any food here tonight but others around us looks good and came quickly.
(4)
Rob D.
I probably will never be going back. The waiter didn't know what was in the egg brunch. I got it assuming the harvest egg brick was just veggies and home fries. He then said bacon. No bacon And contained sausage which I don't like. That would of been a 3 star but after I looked at the bill. 50 dollars? HAHAHAHAH for what??? Who ever goes there is getting ripped off.
(1)
Katie C.
Our past several visits have been really less than satisfactory as of recently. It seems as if the service has continued to get worse. Visit #1: My mom and I stopped in while shopping at the Plaza. We sat at one of the high-top tables adjacent to the mall entrance. And waited. And waited. When our server finally appeared, it was very clear he was new and was somewhat taken aback when we were ready to order both drinks and meals at the same time. Why wasn't I surprised when my entree came out incorrect? It's a salad. How hard is it to screw up? In this case, we just wanted to pay and leave. Visit #2: Hubs and I stopped in before New Year's after running some errands in Braintree. We sat at the bar and ordered our drinks. We split an order of nachos that came out a little longer than we expected. That should have been our first clue. Then, we waited 47 minutes for two chicken caesar salads. No apology from either of the bartenders or a manager on duty. Instead, they were concerned with getting the drunktards next to us with expense accounts another round of drinks and nachos. It was not pleasant. So, what should have taken about an hour or so for dinner took nearly two hours. Needless to say, we just wanted to pay and get the hell out. We never made it to the rest of our places to visit in the mall ... oh yeah, because it took almost two hours. Visit #3: My in-laws insisted on visiting here one night so we did. Our server was nice, but she hadn't learned the concept of pre-bussing. Empty glasses (lots). Empty soup cups. Empty appetizer plate and bread plates. There was literally no room to put our entrees on our table. So rather than clearing them ... I kid you not, she stacked them in the middle of the table. For the effort it took to stack them, she could have easily cleared them. The food is rather average. Nothing particularly outstanding. But bad service that is constantly getting worse? Sorry, I'll spend my money elsewhere for a simple caesar salad.
(2)
Donna S.
An good option if you don't want to do the food court or the hell that is Cheesecake Factory. Onion soup is always good. It's a bit loud but tune it out with a pint.
(4)
Rob W.
Just left Joe's a couple of hours ago. In short; we had a very nice dinner. It was rather empty as it's Halloween night, so obviously we got seated right away. But our server, Sal, approached us right away and took our drink order. He was very friendly, professional and attentive. Our food was excellent. I had the Blackened Chicken Fusilli and my girlfriend had the turkey burger. Everything was great. I dine here occasionally and never really had much to complain about. But this evenings visit deserves high-marks. See you again soon!
(4)
Michael Z.
What happened to this place?! The new menu is HORRIBLE! It's actually an absolute nightmare and beyond disappointing. What happened to the classic menu items like blackened chicken pasta and the rubin? And carrot sticks with the spinach and artichoke dip? No more crostini? What a shame to see such a great restaurant fall right into the garbage. I will certainty not be returning until they turn this place around.
(1)
Jill M.
This review is mostly about service, not the food particularly. Sunday night, party of 10. Our server was Deirdre or something like that, not 100% sure on the spelling of her name. As a bartender myself, working in the service industry, I see a party of 10 as a great ending to a night, you are probably going to make a nice tip off this large party. We arrived around 7:30 or so and were coming from a wake. I can't even begin to understand or explain how rushed our server made us feel. It was not busy, being a Sunday night. If it was busy and she needed to get our order ASAP or would't be back for a long time, I would have understood. She made us feel like she needed to get out of there, needed us to leave, so she could go and have a fun night herself. We were of course not offered coffee or dessert (which would have actually been nice), she made a very clear point of asking us a few times "can I bring the check over?". Some of us still eating, literally, fork in hand, she asked "can I wrap that for you?" "are you still working on that?" Yes, actually, I have food in my mouth so can't even really answer your ridiculous question. I would not go back after this terrible service. Our bill was over $300 and I didn't even want to leave close to a decent tip, which is not me. We ended up leaving about 15% and I hated even doing that. She would have definitely made $60-70 on our large party in only a short hour in a half had she been any good at her job. Sorry, but I've been a server for over 16 years and I could not validate anything she did. All of us had a problem with her.
(1)
Ryan A.
Decided to give Joe's another try after one dissapointed visit. It is safe to say I will not be coming back here. The price you pay does not reflect the quality of food and service you will receive. Food is average at best, the sweet potato fries are soggy. The only good thing about Joe's is the French onion soup. I left here wishing I'd gone to the Cheesecake Factory next door. Do yourself a favor and save your money.
(2)
Old G.
This popular regional chain has new corporate owners and recently redid the entire menu (at least the one in Braintree). Prices have increased dramatically and they seem to load on the salt, presumably to increase drink sales. They used to have wonderful french fries that were hand cut. The new ones are your standard thin McDonald's type. The new menu seems more extensive (and expensive) but it seems a noticeable step down in quality IMHO. Oh well...the staff is friendly...
(2)
Julia T.
I love Joe's. I think their food is always so great and fresh and can't be compared to any "bar" food because it is 1000x better. However, I was extremely disappointed when I went to order the wild greens salad and was told that they were no longer serving it at this location, and even worse, they would remove it from all locations in September. The wild greens salad was by far my favorite meal at Joe's and I can't say with confidence that I'll be back any time soon once they remove it permanently.
(3)
Yen P.
What a horrible disappointment. We had a turkey burger with mushrooms and it was dry, tasteless, and rather burnt. The mushrooms were cold and the fries were soggy. The pickle was pinky size. Also the Cobb salad which tasted like trash can! We should have gone to the food court and would be less expensive and better food.
(1)
Christine N.
I came in last weekend after speaking with the GM Dana. She was so understanding of my previous situation and invited me back in. I was a little hesistant but she did mention that the server I had before was no longer there so I felt much more comfortable about coming in. I came in during a busy lunch and I was seated right away. Dana came over to say hello and we got Brittany as our waitress. She was sweet and very attentive. During a lunch rush, sometimes servers get frazzled and forget to check in or forget to fill up waters but she was on top of everything. Not just with us but I noticed with her tables around us. We were in and out for lunch but it was nice being able to give joes another try. I'll put it back on my list of places to have lunch at!
(5)
Bob L.
Food was decent and service was good. My complaint was we were there on a very warm and humid evening and they had all the doors open from the outside dining area. It was so hot and humid inside the dining area it was really uncomfortable. Everybody was really hot while eating and couldn't wait to leave. I guess that's one way to sell more beer! Wouldn't go back on a warm day again for that reason. Food was typical and decent not great but as expected for a mall restaurant.
(3)
Carolina E.
Classic upper American cousine.
(3)
Claire D.
So I'm alarmed at the table we sat at. 10 pieces of gum stuck underneath and scratched on top? Ew. Clam chowder was ok, the creamy part was awesome but clams were chewy. Beer was awesome. Hubby's burger was cooked all the way through when he asked for medium rare. But was starved and ate the whole thing. I was an idiot and didn't realize the pulled chicken and cranberry walnut salad would have dark meat. Yuck. Cold, the dressing quickly made everything soggy and the chicken was cold, not a good combo for me, maybe someone else would like it. I would like that dressing on salad tho in general! Our waitress was super nice and very attentive. I feel bad I sent the salad back but I couldn't eat it. Unfortunately joes is off the list :(
(3)
Zak T.
Just had another fantastic meal at Joe's American Grill. The new chili lime salad was great and the homemade dressing really stepped it up a few notches. The staff was on point and did a great job throughout the evening. We will definitely be returning soon.
(5)
Nganie L.
Don't come here for steak! Service is good. Our waitress is really nice but that is all. I was craving for steak but I don't want to go to Boston on a Saturday night. Got steak frites, asked for medium. Came out just barely cook. More like raw. Asked to be cooked a little bit. The same steak came out black and beyond well done! I believe the term is burnt. My potatoes was just dry and hard. No amount of butter or ketchup can help.
(2)
Melanie W.
I've recently had two completely opposite experiences that this location of Joe's. I guess I'd really rate it 2.5 stars, but I'll round up. I used to go to Joe's a lot when I was younger because it was in the mall, which was where I spent most of my Friday nights in high school. I came back a couple months ago for the first time in a long time, and the experience was just fine. My server was really friendly and attentive. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli and it was really good with roasted root vegetables and walnuts. No complaints, but maybe just a tad bit less butter. The last time I was here, I was really disappointed with everything. I came in with a bunch of family as a quickly thrown together celebration for me passing my nursing boards. It should be noted that I had originally picked the Cheesecake Factory, but by the time we would have been called to eat, I would have already passed my nurse practitioner boards. We ordered a bunch of drinks to start, and they took forever to get there. About 20 minutes. The waiter did run by sometimes and say that they will be there shortly, but ti still took a really long time. When the drinks came, we were beyond ready to order food. One of my cousins (who is still a kid), ordered a burger well-done, and the waiter proceeded to make fun of him and say that his order was going to hold up everyone's food. I thought that was inappropriate. I ordered the braised prime pork sandwich. And we waited, and waited, and waited. Now, I know we were warned because of the burger, but it still seemed like a really long wait. I would have thought less of it if our drinks hadn't taken so long to come out earlier. When I got my sandwich, I was really disappointed. It wasn't really what I was expecting. The demi-glaze had mushrooms in it, which was not on the menu. I hate mushrooms and never would have ordered it had I known. When I brought this up to the waiter and he just shrugged and said "oh, yeah, that's the glaze". There was no offer to try to rectify the situation. So I was left taking bits of food from my family in order to eat that night. In addition, the fries were cold, like they had been plated way before the rest of the food. I was really disappointed as this was supposed to be a celebration, and it turned out to be a pretty awful experience. It left me feeling pretty "meh" about Joe's and if it hadn't been for that earlier experience, the stars would be much lower.
(3)
Jacklyn T.
Reserved a party for 8, and they called on the day of the party to confirm our reservation! The food was excellent and our waitress was excellent and always filling our waters when it was needed. We brought a cake and kept it in the fridge while we had dinner. Perfect night! I was very impressed! Definitely deserves 5 stars!
(5)
Trisha T.
Went to Joe's for a late lunch today around 3pm and it was a mob scene. We waited about 20 minutes for a table, which we didn't mind, then were seated near the kitchen. Our waitress seemed extremely stressed from the crazy busy atmosphere and I was under the impression they were very understaffed. After ordering we received half a load of bread. Typically wouldn't mind, but given that we waited quite a while for our meal it would've been nice to have had more, especially since all the other couples around us got full loaves. We received our meals after about a half hour and literally had seen our waitress once after we'd ordered inquiring about refills. Couldn't wait to finish our meal and head out. Food was decent, service, not so good...we were disappointed and feel Joe's should've been more prepared.
(2)
T L.
Whatever they're doing, I hope they keep doing it! They have a from-scratch kitchen, so they are able to accommodate food allergies. The grilled mussel appetizer is amazing. (I wish they'd bring it back!) I really enjoyed the fish sandwich. As someone who doesn't eat a lot of fried food, I like that you can order your sandwich/burger with a salad instead of french fries. I also like that you can order any sandwich or burger with a lettuce bun. My friends ordered the prime rib and the Blackhawk Grille Short Rib Meatloaf. Both dishes got good remarks. The staff were helpful and the manager was constantly around and watching. A good sign. Will definitely be back. :)
(5)
Lisa M.
The bread is so good, along with the whipped butter! I ordered the chicken club which is yummy. They can accommodate what you don't want. Just be CLEAR! The waiter did a good job! I ask for no mayo on my sandwich & got no mayo on my sandwich!!! :) I asked for BBQ sauce on the side & there on the edge of my plate was BBQ sauce filled to the top. Also , the sweet potato fries are crispy...but watch out for the pickles that come with your sandwich ... That came make your bread & fries slimy. Next time, American Joe's should put pickles in a cup. The brownie sundae is super rich Godiva milk chocolate !!!!!! Mmmmm. Once in awhile treat! Comes in a pan & it's deffff worth sharing BCUZ it was more than enough for two people. Friday nights , I order takeout on my way home from work& every time I pick my food up.... It's always ready & the hostess is quick! Now I got my dinner & Netflix to enjoy my night!
(5)
Shirley Y.
Very surprised to find this restaurant have so few stars and some poor ratings. We like to come in once in a while after shopping at the mall. The wait time for a table really depends on the day, but generally, even on a Friday night, there's much less of a wait than what's across the way at the cheesecake factory. As for the food, everything we've had so far was delicious. To start off, their bread is wicked awesome. We asked the waitress what was in it (she said lots of butter, and 3,000 calories a loaf!) But it's awesome. Definitely recommend the crab cakes and the prime rib au jus. Oh, and the baby back ribs! Girls, it's tough to finish the full rack (2lbs), but for guys, it's pretty satisfying to finish, I heard. Dessert is so-so, but the skillet cookie is definitely different. If you're a fan of salted caramel, go for the cheesecake. Top it all off with a drink, and voila, a perfect night!
(4)
Caitlyn T.
Went there with my boyfriend Monday night. I had baby back ribs and he had the blackened chicken pasta. Both were pretty good and the massive portion sizes allowed us to have them for lunch the next day. A much less overwhelming menu in comparison to the cheese cake factory next door. The service was awesome and we will definitely be back!
(4)
Stephanie F.
I've heard great things about Joe's and I have to say, it didn't live up to the talk of the town. The hostess dragged me and my boyfriend to 2 different tables which were both not cleaned, back up front to wait for a clean table and then finally to a clean table. Usually thats something that wouldn't bother me, however, I saw her try to sit 3 other couples at the same table and she kept going "Opps, Sorry...One moment" then she would bring them to a clean table. Finally our waiter came over and he took our drink orders...messed them up and gave us sprite instead of water. Then he took or food order...didn't write it down and then came back to re-ask me what I ordered. We had ordered an appetizer and after 25 minutes of waiting it came out with our food. Both of our dinners we incorrect even though he asked us twice...we were too hungry to have them fix it over all not my favorite restaurant in braintree...probably wouldn't go back unless cheesecake factory and all the other restaurants had long waits and even then I would question it before we went.
(2)
Aaron K.
OK when I first wrote a review for this place I went overboard with 5 stars. I've had better burgers since but they still put out a great quality burger for the price. On my most recent visit I splurged and went for their crabcakes. They were awesome, tons of chunks of crab meat pretty much no filler, just enough breading to hold them together. Tartar sauce made them taste fantastic. I would definitely come back for this dish in the future. Highly Recommended.
(4)
Ryan L.
Wasn't even served. Sat for over 10 minutes. Nobody came by our table. The manager on duty is clueless too.
(1)
Maura M.
I usually love joes but today it just isn't the same. We asked our waitress 3 times for bread and she never brought it! That is like the best part of Joes! Our dinners came out quickly and my salad was good. I just don't know if I'd be dying to come back. They have huge air conditioning vents like industrial size in there blocking many tables. It's just a sight for sore eyes. It's not what I was expecting to see walking in. It's kind of expensive too $50 for two people who got dinner and 2 beers. It was ok but wasn't something to rave about.
(3)
Emily F.
I really like this bar/restaurant. Music is quiet enough, not too busy a place, and the waitstaff pays attention to you. I ventured for the special this time(a salmon dish), and I loved it ! If you are going for the first time, the clam chowder in a bread bowl is YUMMY, and they bring delicious bread to the table too. Burgers are good too. Food came quick, and when my server gave a crappy bar recommendation, he got me something new and took it right off the bill. I very much recommend this place.
(4)
Rebecca V.
Love their sourdough bread. Great, service. I had their Ahi tuna. It was okay. It could have been seared a bit better. My husband had their crab cake dinner...really not enough food for any man if you ask me. I know their food is quality but the prices could be a little lower.
(2)
Karen W.
If you are looking for an "eating experience" let me give you some guidance. 1st - got to the bathroom before you get to the Braintree American's Joes' - I recommend the Mobile Gas Station on the corner - their bathrooms are CLEANER! 2nd. After you get to the mall for your dining experience at American Joe's - GO UPSTAIRS AND EAT AT THE FOOD COURT!. I know that you're looking for the experience at American's Joe's but please, for your safety and wellbeing - eat upstairs first... the wait for actual food is between 45-85 minutes -do not go in there hungry - you'll be hungry after storming out - eat upstairs and it will give you more stamina to get through the ordering process and the crappy food. You might ask why this review is so bad. Aside from my own experience this weekend, I witnessed something I never through I would see in this day and age. A mother/daughter came in to eat. I heard the mother ask for the manager and then tell the manager that the bathrooms were "filthy and disgusting". I had not gone to the bathroom yet... so, being nosy I went down stairs to check it out. The actual stench coming up the stairs did not stop me as I wanted to see what the ladies room actually looked like. It was DISCUSTING. I checked the 6 stalls and still could not decide which was least nasty to go into. I just changed my mind and went back upstairs - I decided to "hold" it until I could get to the food court (upstairs) and use the "public" bathroom. I figured it was cleaner (and I was right too). 3rd on to the food... You need to understand that this was/is not a cheap restaurant most of the dishes were over $10.00. I only ordered one thing because right as I was about to order my main course/dish - the mother/daughter team (which had been there for about 1 hour) angrily stormed out after asking to speak with a manager again. I was embarrassed for the company and myself as I could clearly see that their waiter did not want to serve them. The managerial staff did not want to serve them. Ultimately, they sat in the restaurant for over an hour and did not get served. It was shameful and embarrassing... I will never eat in the place again. I have eaten at both the Braintree and Dedham places and I can tell you that after witnessing the behavior of the staff and management I will be recommending that everyone I know avoid this place like it has the plague. The racsis plague...
(1)
Joe K.
Waited 15 mins for a drink order, 45 mins for dinner and my steak was well done!! As a customer I'm, well, done!
(1)
Irene R.
If you want a burger cooked right this is the place to go. The chef not only knows how to properly cook a burger, but the wait staff is able to tell you what the inside will be like (since most people tend to overcook burgers). The decor was a nice pub style and our server was really attentive. Now I'm craving another burger.
(4)
Shannon I.
I haven't been to this location in a while. I remembered that I enjoyed my meal last time I went there. I also like the look of the place and atmosphere. I stopped by on Friday with my teenage son because I was doing a little shopping in the plaza. I love Joe's blackened chicken pasta - but this was my first experience having it at this location. There was too much escarole - it outweighed every other ingredient in the dish so it was a bit overwhelming. I also noticed that the serving was much smaller at this location. I used to order it at the Hanover location and there was always enough to eat and take home to nibble on later. I miss the Hanover portions. My son got the mac n cheese. He only took a couple bites and then had it wrapped to go. I warmed it up and ate it (with his blessing) since he apparently abandoned the meal - I didn't finish it. The taste was very bland - there was no real cheese flavor to the sauce. I didn't want to waste precious calories on a bland meal so I tossed it. It's not a dish I would ever order or recommend from them. But the main thing that bothered me were the fruit flies. We were swatting at fruit flies throughout our meal. We weren't very close to the kitchen either - so that makes me wonder how bad the problem is if they had floated way over to us at our table. Fruit flies are kitchen specific - they don't just randomly come in through a window. So that was less than appetizing. The waiter was really nice though - busy - but as attentive as he could be considering he had a full section. I probably won't go back there anytime soon, if ever. There are a lot of places to eat at the plaza, so I will probably try something else next time I go there.
(2)
Stephen M.
We had Jay as our waiter, started off good then went downhill fast. He got his second wind just before the bill came. Ha.
(2)
Meg D.
I have been to this location numerous times. I have gone for brunch, lunch and dinner, and have always enjoyed my meal. Some of my favorites are for brunch the corned beef hash with eggs and sun dried tomato hollandaise sauce. This isnt hash out of a can kids, its legit, and delicious, not too greasy/salty like you find at some diners. For lunch/dinner I love their Onion soup, perfect for a cold day, and also their ahi tuna appetizer is great too. My go to for dinner has recently been the burger with a lettuce bun. Service is usually good, sometimes on brunch it can be spotty, but other than that no real complaints.
(4)
Roni J.
Not at all what it used to be. Our burgers were cooked medium rare to order and that plus one refill of iced tea were the high points of our lunch yesterday. The low points - cold fries, a whole grain bun that was cool, should have been grilled or at least warmed up to complement the burger rather than detract from it, and an indifferent waitress who never came by to check on us and responded with a shrug about the cold fries. I remember the burgers and hot crispy fries at joes were always a treat. Not so much anymore, and won't be back.
(2)
Robert C.
Joe's used to be a favorite spot for me, and it pains me to say this is no longer the case. The place is a pretty mediocre dining destination now. The quality of the food now seems pretty average for a mall restaurant, yet the prices on the menu seem to have gone up. I don't mind paying a bit more for a high-quality meal, but the food seemed no better than other chain restaurants you might find in and around a mall. They have a few new menu items, like the Blackhawk Grill Short Rib Meatloaf, which is a really fancy name for a very plain tasting meatloaf that certainly wasn't worth the $18 price. Some of the unique features, like coffee served with little individual coffee pots that a waiter would pour for you, are gone. Just a regular mug of coffee now. Complimentary alcoholic drinks with weekend brunch orders seem to be gone too.
(3)
Lauriane W.
I haven't been to Joe's in ages and was dying for there crab cakes. I go to use the restroom downstairs and was horrified at the disgusting smell that created me at the top of the stairs! It got worst as I walked down the stairs and entered the bathroom. I was very saddened to kno that a place where people eat would smell so awful. And to make my visit even worst, sum bone head never brought my appetizers out, n offered to still send them home with me no charge. Problem was by the time I got home my fried Calamari was soggy! Not a day at Joe's ; (
(2)
Jenna L.
My mom and I went here for dinner on a Friday night and were pleasantly surprised that there was no wait to be seated. The hostess was friendly and our waiter took our drink order almost immediately. After our drinks were delivered and we placed our order, it was about 40 minutes before we saw our waiter again. After getting our food, we didn't see our waiter until he came to give us the bill. I'm still giving this place 4 stars because it's understandable that the staff was busy on a Friday night and our food was delicious!
(4)
Jeff S.
Very busy but service excellent. Had the blackened fish sandwich, plus a cup of clam chowder. Delicious! Love this place for a quick, inexpensive but good tasting meal.
(4)
Jesse F.
Very good. We were pleasantly surprised. We only went here because the Cheesecake Factory had a 20 minute line just to put our names down. Food: (Grade: A-) Appetizers were good. The nachos weren't that great, but the calamari and spinach dip were delicious. My filet was a great piece of meat and it was cooked perfectly. My niece got the same cut, but her's was a bit overcooked. My party also had the Mac and Cheese, which along with the ribs, got great reviews. Service: (Grade: B+) Our server was decent, but he was sort of slow. We had a large party (10), so I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt. Price: (Grade: A) It was cheap for the quality of the food. We anticipated less because of the prices, but it ended up being very high in taste and quality.
(4)
Theresa F.
The food was pretty good. This isn't bad for a mall joint, you can get some nice hot food and a drink and go about your business shopping and all. Not my favorite service, but I wasn't upset at anything in particular. I'd go again during shopping.
(3)
Jimmy S.
OVERALL: Meh. Quality: 3 stars. Typical mall food. Was cold when it arrived. Would have sent it back but we all know what happens to your food when you do that... Service: 2 stars. The guy barely stopped by. Could have used some extra beers and a few sides, but he literally stopped by once. Atmosphere: 3 stars. Decent bar, lots of seating. Nothing spectacular. Price: 3 stars. Decent. Again, middle of the road. Notes: So on our (my wife and I) mall adventure we needed to stop to refuel both our stomach's and our blood alcohol level. We stopped by Cheesecake factory but the 45 minute wait was not appealing. Off to Joe's, with no wait. Seated rather quickly, friendly front staff. We sat in our booth, reviewing the menu for about 15 minutes. Our server finally stopped by and took our drink order. We both ordered a beer and some bar food (I think a burger and something else) to tide us over. We literally did not see our server for another 45 minutes. Beers were empty, stomachs were empty, and we had to flag someone down. He finally arrived back with our cold food. We needed some mayo, ketchup, etc. but he was like a ghost. Nowhere to be seen. So cold food and empty beer glasses. Most likely, we will not be stopping by again.
(3)
TinoX T.
Nice Food,Good mood,Cool Prices
(3)
Nicole L.
This place came recommended but I found the steak bland and had to use A1 just to get some enjoyment out of it. It was a bit too pricey for what you get. Visited: September 27, 2012
(2)
Paul W.
First of all I am horribly appalled at the direction the service industry is going in. Never in all my life have I had such an unpleasant experience anywhere. Where do I even start, I and my partner went there on a Friday night and was rudely greeted by hostess who you could tell could care less about her job. We had a little wait went over to bar which was fine. The horror started when we were seated once again by this miserable hostess with no silverware. So minutes which almost turned into hours go by and still no waitress although everyone keeps walking by us. Had to suck up everything to approach hostess looking for waiter. She had informed me server would be right over yeah ten minutes later. She comes over takes our order for app and another round of drinks which took well over 20 minutes to get and then apps came with no silverware. The entrees are another story. We order our main meal which once again took absolutely forever and the runner dropped off food but couldn't even bother to take our finished appetizer at this point I was just absolutely appalled. They screwed up my order and my partner was not at all pleased with the prefrozen cod he ordered. The waitress's never even said sorry oh and ac was broken. This was by far the worst restaurant chain I have ever been to and was horrified at the service provided. Will not be going back again!
(1)
Jeff P.
Great American food, specializing in New England faire. Tasty beer selection. Friendly bartender. Above average mall food.
(4)
Karen V.
I went here tonight for food & drinks and can hardly believe the way the bartender treated us. From the start she behaved like it pained her to serve us, " what can I get ya" rudely. didn't smile once, threw us dirty looks for the entire time we were sitting quietly having a conversation trying to ignore her attitude.. Never once asked if our food was ok or if we needed anything, asked begrudgingly if we wanted another drink. When my friend asked if we could have the check she rudely asked " what is it?" with a sour face. really Joes? I used to come here more often and have been a few times recently but this is by far the worse service I have experienced, no need for it, plenty other places at the mall.
(1)
CJ G.
You know after seeing this place I kicked and screamed like a little kid not wanting to go with my friends and girlfriend! When I think "American Grill" I think American style food! Like hot dogs, burgers and fries. The very type of food they sell here. I just refuse to pay $12+ for a burger at any joint! No matter how good it is. Call me cheap if you will but that's just how my mind is set! With that being said! I can tell you that I was wrong. The food here was great and worth every penny that we paid for it! I ordered a bowl of Mac and Cheese with bacon! It was very creamy and yummy! Bacon had been cooked to perfection and it only left me wanting more! Now that's an American dish if you ask me! And as the late George Carlin would put it..."The Statue of Liberty would be holding a giant bowl of mac and cheese instead of the torch!" (This is the clean way of saying it!) And after coming here...I must agree! After dinner I had some carrot cake to finish me off! After that I was ready for bed! The service here was pretty good too. Wait staff was friendly and the food came out on time! Anytime I needed a refill on my drink she was there! So after all of my whining I am happy to report that I was wrong. I now have no issues going to Joe's in the very near future!
(4)
Michael C.
I am a real fan of the Back Bay Restaurant group of which Joe's American Bar and Grill is a member. No Matter which Joe's I have gone too, the food and service is excellent. Tonight was no different. I had the Chicken Curry Soup (It's Awesome). I always get it when they have it. My Guest had the Onion Soup, Its also Awesome. My guest had the Cheese Bacon Sandwich. I have never had it. But they told me it was great. I had the Strip Steak. For the money, it was an awesome steak. For a chain this is as good as it gets !
(5)
Storm L.
have ordered in before and it always takes awhile for the food to arrive and their steaks are cooked perfectly and await to see if it is done properly for you. For the first time I ordered out and did burgers both well done. They were charred dry and one still had the stick in it stating what is was buried under the toppings and bun!!. McDonalds is better and no worry of getting physically hurt by biting into it! Only eat steak and expect loooooong waits for food no matter what you order or how empty it is
(2)
Sean G.
Joe's is probably the best place to eat at the Plaza. The menu is a good size plenty of options without being overwhelming. Its never crazy busy which I find strange because I find the food here to be much better then the Cheesecake Factory. I've never had a bad meal here.
(3)
Ryan M.
I've read other reviews about it being a great alternative to cheese cake factory which is next door. I'm very glad my wife and I tried this place. The service we received was awesome, our server was extremely friendly, attentive, and answered any questions we had. For the first time in my life, I tried the famous blue crab and it lived up to the hype. Sorry, but I'm from Hawaii and we don't have blue crab dishes. The taste and texture was delicious, it was definitely sweeter then king crab legs. The pasta dish I had was the Chicken & Broccoli Ziti and it was delicious. If you're not a creamy sauce fan, I don't recommend it because it's pretty creamy, but the pasta isn't swimming in the sauce. My wife had the chopped cobb salad which had a ton of ingredients. Generally you think salad's aren't filling, but let me tell you, this one is and this dish makes you full! I would highly reocmmend this place because it's comparable to Cheese cake factory and probably isn't as busy!
(5)
Brian L.
Came here with my some of my family after some shopping. I'll say that I was famished, so the food may have tasted extra good to me. I'll say the bread here is quite good. It's a circle loaf, with the outside flaky/crispy. The inside is super fluffy - really good flavor. I like to keep my bread fluffy, but it was difficult with this bread, as it was way fluffy on the inside, and to rip it, you sort of have to crush it. I got the bacon cheeseburger. It wasn't very big, but the flavor was fine. It was fresh and cooked to the way I liked. Came with some french fries, 2 onion rings, and a pickle. I ate some chicken club (a bit too much mayo and not massive like some club sandwiches you see), and some of the NY strip (flavorful, juicy, pretty good). I thought it was a fine meal, and I'd def go back if I'm in the neighborhood. One point I need to make though, is that our waiter was great - very nice, not overly attentive (good thing), and very cordial. I believe his name was Dan, and he definitely made it a more pleasant night (would've been better if I wasn't about the gnaw on my arm from the hunger, haha).
(4)
Margo L.
What a disappointment as I had recommended this place for a girls night out. The medium rare blue cheese burger I ordered came with American cheese instead and was well done. The other food we ordered was just OK (the fries were especially lackluster). The first table we were seated at was greasy and full of crumbs (we opted to move). And it was very dark. The waitress was very extremely nice which saved the night.
(3)
Alexander M.
I first discovered Joe's American Bar and Grill on Newbury St in Boston as an inexpensive alternative to the high-dollar restaurants in the Back Bay. I learned that there were multiple locations, one of which is in Braintree. The service is excellent, and the food is great! The bread is quite delicious. The food comes reasonably fast, and the entrees are nothing short of superb. The recently revamped menu seems a bit smaller than the old one, but the quality is still the same. This place is now a favorite spot of mine.
(5)
Laura C.
Ok. The good things first: the onion soup was delicious, as always, and the herb vinegrette salad dressing is delicious. These are the only reasons for the 2 stars. Unless you are looking for soup and salad, do not come here! My husband and I sat at the bar. He ordered onion soup and cheeseburger med. I ordered side salad and cheeseburger med-well, side of mayo. The soup and salad came out pretty fast. I asked the bartender for bread. He shook his head, yes, but we never got our bread. About 30 mins later, our burgers were nowhere to be found. The bar back, not even the bartender, apologized and said he would bring them out as soon as its ready. The bar back, not the bartender, asked to refresh our drinks. After waiting 40 mins, we got our food, mine, no mayo. Their once signature hand-cut fries were frozen fries. Their once thick juicy hand-packed burgers were frozen patties. For $12 per burger plus $1.00 extra per topping, I expect a lot more. My med-well burger was actually cooked med-well. My husband's med burger was cooked well. The burger buns were cold and were twice the size of the burgers. Come on Joe's, for a $48 tab (including the $7 house salad, and I ordered the $4 side salad) I expect something better than glorified fast food. We could have gone to McDonald's a few doors down for much less $$ and friendlier service. Joe's used to have one of the best burgers & fries around. Now, don't even bother. The service is slow, the food quality is awful, the prices are high, and the bartender is indifferent to the customers. Jan 31, 2014 Response to Dana M: While I do appreciate your comments and following up with the bar staff, that was only part of the problem. I believe the bigger problem lies with kitchen management, food quality, and food prices. I can live with indifferent staff if the food is great. I can even live with high prices if the food is great. But combine them all, and Joe's Braintree is not a place I'd come back to. As stated in my earlier post, Joe's used to have one of the best burgers & fries around. I wish/hope you can get back there.
(2)
Erwin F.
I'll be honest here, I really only go to Joe's when the line and waiting time for Cheesecake Factory is the length of the first showing of Avatar. Nothing against Joe's, but that's just how it is. Because my GF and I didn't get our first pick restaurant I decided to just keep the meal to a minimum. I got some chili and a California Cobb salad. The salad was about average and I won't really bore you with the details. BUT...that chili was Tony the Tiger "GRRRRRREAT!" [Yeah that was corny, but indulge me just this one time]. It was a pleasant surprise to actually taste good pieces of ground beef, solid pieces of peppers, and the damned thing actually came out spicy for once (not commenting about Joe's, but in general). The restaurant actually uses real cheddar cheese instead of Parmesan or other mediocre cheeses. In regards to everything else, it was all good. The server was a little lacking on being attentive in stopping by to see how things were and refilling water glasses. I don't know if he took us lightly because we basically ordered apps or that he was busy elsewhere, but he could have made his presence known more. Setting - I've probably been to Joe's a handful of times, but I always forget how nice the inside can be. For you guys out there looking to take your girl out to a nice place, don't dismiss this place so quickly. The servers look respectable and legit, the tables and dining area are LEVELS above Applebee's and TGIFridays. I've been here before and I can see myself going back again, maybe just maybe even if Cheesecake isn't a crazy long wait either.
(4)
Mark W.
Well, I haven't written a review in a while but my lunch time experience here yesterday warrants one. I will preface this by saying that I have been to this location a few times before and never had a problem so I can't really understand what happened yesterday. I met mother for lunch and instead of going to the cheesecake factory we decided on Joe's. We walked in and were seated immediately. My mother who has diabetes started feeling light headed so when our waiter came over we mentioned that to him and requested bread asap. He returned with water but no bread so I mentioned it again which maybe upset him because from there on out the experience was awful. He took our order and then disappeared. About 15-20 minutes go by and no sign of our server or food, mind you I ordered the chicken club and my mother order turkey burger and the place was pretty empty. So eventually our server brings out the food and when my mother asked what the delay was he told that her he had been waiting on the fries to finish, they were cold. At this point the manager came over unprompted and inquired how our meal was going, I told her it was fine but she asked again so I explained to her about the poor service. I want to say that the manager was very professional and apologetic. I eat out at least once a week and I never complain about service and had she not come over I would have never requested to speak to the manager, I would have just eaten my meal, paid the bill and left disappointed. The manager offered to comp our food so we finish our meal and I wanted to make sure that the entire bill was going to be covered. I had a beer and a mixed drink and wasn't sure if it was also being comped. After the manager came over and spoke to us we never saw our original server again so my mother flagged down a different server as he walked by and this seemed to upset him so under his breath he mumbled "Do I look like your fucking waiter?". I was pretty shocked and asked him to repeat himself but of course he played dumb and acted like he never said anything. This time I did request to speak to the manager and explained to her what just happened. Once again she was very apologetic and offered to have us back for dinner. I accepted her offer because I didn't want to be rude but I will never eat here again and more than likely won't be going to any other location. TL;DR Had extremely poor,unprofessional service. The manager was extremely apologetic and very professional. I will never go back to this location or any other for that matter ever again.
(1)
Matthew H.
I have mixed feelings about Joe's. I like that when I go to the mall and there's a 90 minute wait at the Cheesecake factory there's usually no wait at all for Joe's. I like the fact that they have some of the tastiest bread & butter I've ever had. What I don't like is that the menu absolutely never changes at all. I also dislike that everytime I ask for something medium rare (like my Black & Blue Burger last night) they always bring it medium well or well. It always seems to take much longer than it should for a burger that temperature (usually at lunch) and I never have the heart to send it back, even though they ask me to check it right then. The only thing I've ever had that was truly amazing (and I've been probably 15 times) is the Black & Blue Burger - one of the best I've ever had anywhere. Everything else is solid, but not really impressive in any way. A good lunch spot, but I certainly wouldn't bring a date here.
(3)
Tim S.
I have always had good food and drink at Joe's and used to enjoy eating at the bar. The lighting used to be low and cozy. Now there are spotlights on your head and it's too bright. I asked the bartender to dim the light but said she couldn't. No other explanation. I won't be back until the lighting is better. Such a shame because I have been coming to Charlie's/Joe's since the 1980's
(3)
Erin M.
The staff at Joe's is perfectly adequate, helpful, and kind. The waitress I had recently at lunch here was a bit eager to get me to stay my order, so much so, that once I sat down she was ready. Two minutes later, she still was ready...five...ok, I am not ready. My menu was still open. I was reading it. Does this not indicate that I am NOT READY. "Miss, are you ready?" NO. NO. NO. If I am talking to my friend about what I want, that also means I am not ready. Please relax. Attentive service is better than no service though, right? Right. Aside from fantastic company and the over-attentive waitress, Joe's was utterly average and not good. The chicken club was on the small side and cut into quarters. Small sandwich cut into small pieces? Completely difficult to manage, especially with the white ends of iceburg lettuce thrown in. Although my love affair with lettuce is new and still developing, I know a crappy piece of lettuce when I see one...or many. The chicken club is also a double decker sandwich, with a completely unnecessary piece of extra bread wedged in, making the lettuce removing process even that much more difficult. Ugh. The menu does not mention the additional carb-loading so not once did I have the opportunity for Joe's to save that extra piece of bread for someone else. Prices are reasonable, based on reading the menu, as long as the portions are a touch larger. The fries are delicious, I will give Joe's that. Even with courteous staff and the great fries, I am really not compelled to go back. And why seat people in the back of the restaurant when it's a sunny day and plenty of window seating? Let the world know people are eating here!
(2)
Spottenheim C.
I have been to Joe's in past and found it lackluster. However, with the new management, this is not the Joe's of the past. Both the food and service stepped up considerably, especially for casual dinning. Most recently, they have updated their menu to be trimmer and leaner, which has resulted in better food quality. I do request that Joe's please bring back the pan seared mussels, which was delicious. The manager and waitstaff are food allergy trained and with a made to order open kitchen, they should be able to accommodate most requests. I recently had the meatloaf and the pork loin, both of which are excellent. They can grill , as opposed to fry, chicken wings which is a nice alternative to those seeking to reduce their fried food intake. The clam chowder recipe has not changed and if you have not done so, try it with some hot sauce. The peasant bread remains the same and is quite good that you may be tempted to fill up on bread before getting to your meal. Weekend brunch includes one free drink and the location is convenient if you are doing some early mall shopping. There is a preferred guest reward program for $20 and I would only recommend if you intend to eat here and other Tavistock Restaurants. My only criticism is the steak quality could be better, because I found it tougher than I expected. Otherwise, I would recommend you give Joe's a try for casual dining if you have not been there in a while.
(5)
Jason G.
Been to this place a few times, they always have good food, and good-great service. The prime rib is always good, be wary of the larger cut...double the size, but only $5 bucks more? Comes on the bone, so there's most of your weight. The spinach artichoke dip is fresh and it comes with vegetables to dip, which tastes better and is a little healthier. I'd check it out one time, and think of it when the Cheesecake Factory line is overwhelming.
(4)
Sarah D.
Actually pretty nice inside considering its mall location. Dark wood and stuff. It almost seems a little fancy. That psuedo-fancy calm demeanor and the lack of decent tv's makes this a place to eat and leave immediately. It doesn't doesn't invite hanging out for any length of time. The burger here is really good. They serve it on a serious roll, the burger is really beefy and juicy, and they use great sharp cheddar. The steaks are decent considering the low price-point. They won't blow your mind but they've got some flavor to them. And they make a decent bar-pie style pizza. The rest of the food is pretty bad. Most of what they serve is really heavy and not very tasty. They pour a very stingy glass of wine. I know you don't fill a wine glass all the way and all that mumbo jumbo, but this wine is pretty lowbrow and the restaurant is a chain, so for the price, i expect at least a bit more of a pour. They have only the most standard of beers, i think Sam seasonal is as exotic as they get. They do sell IBC rootbeer in a glass bottle; vastly overpriced, but nice anyway. I've never ordered a cocktail bit i've looked at the list and it seems insanely priced. $12 martinis at Joe's in the mall? No dice. Good burgers. The end!
(3)
Beck N.
Went here again last Saturday evening & was immediately seated (while Cheesecake had a 45 min wait). I had the angel hair primavera with chicken which was absolutely delicious! It was light & the chicken was cooked perfectly. We also ordered some of the fun frozen drinks - chocolate peanut butter frappe & the almond joy. Quite unique, a bit pricey, but a nice indulgence at the end of a tasty meal.
(4)
Ann L.
Joe's seems to get the Cheesecake factory left overs who don't want the wait. Seated quickly and the service was swift. The ribs were pretty good but very few fries, which were soggy anyway. Lobster roll special was disappointing. Roll was greasy and even fewer soggy fries. Probably a blessing. Try elswhere. Prices not great .
(2)
christine c.
Consistent but not over-the-top good. The dinner prices are a little steep, but you can get a good sandwich or a great burger here for under $15. The service is totally hit or miss but management and the host staff is always friendly. It can be busy during crazy shopping holiday weekends or weird mall hours.
(3)
Nicole M.
Spectacular nachos. My husband was impressed with the butter, but he said its because he doesn't get real butter at home. Lol
(4)
Keith M.
Cobb salad for lunch. You can say that Joe's is Joe's is Joe's - same at every location. Decent food and good service. Reliable.
(3)
Kelly C.
Food is good. Waitstaff is friendly and there is never a wait unlike the cheesecake factory next door. Had the lobster mac and cheese last time and it was delicious. About $20.00 which is expensive but a nice splurge now and again. Bread is delicious but they seem to be getting a little cheep with it.
(3)
Kay W.
Love this restaurant. There's never that much of a wait even on weekends. My favorites are the pink sangria and the blackened chicken pasta. I've never had a problem at this restaurant nor at the other joe's in Boston or Hanover.
(5)
Patrick L.
My family and I have literally eaten at Joes over 100 times in the past 12 years. It is a huge step above any franchised eatery yet just below fine dining. The food is ALWAYS the same everytime we go. I can remember 1 or 2 bad waiters over the years. The rest have al been Superb. Guaranteed Great meal and terrific staff. Love the Clam Chowder Bread bowl and the Chicken Club for lunch. managers are always courteous and check to see how happy you are. Braintree's location blows away Dedham & Norwell. The other two are mediocre at best.
(4)
Veronica A.
I read on Phantom Gourmet that when going to any chain restaurant stick to the appetizers. I think this statement applies to Joe's. We started with the calamari. I know, it's basic and boring, but it was also delicious. The service was great. But after the bread got to the table, everything was downhill after there. My mushroom burger and fries were flavorless and just plain-old not good. My husband had the French Dip. He liked it until his stomach started giving him trouble about an hour later and heartburn kicked in two hours after that. Overall, not worth a drive, but if everything else is closed and you must eat here, stick to the appetizers.
(2)
Mark L.
Was not that great, service was horrible my family and I had a stack of plates sitting on the table for 3/4 of the meal and the server never attempted to take them out of the way. The food however was very good as it always has been.
(3)
Dave M.
Stopped here on business trip alone. Nice atmosphere. The chicken dish was ridiculous good. Server seemed a bit new on knowledge but was polite and prompt which is what counts. I'll definitely come back next time in town.
(4)
Tony D.
I had a burger with blue cheese & bacon, French fries & onion rings. I know, how on earth do I keep my slender figure eating that stuff, you ask. Well, if you must know, I don't. Had to chuckle at the Cobb salad which is served in a taco shell that looks like the Elephant man's old fedora. Nothing really terrible here, it just doesn't excite me. Am I un-American not to like this place. Added a star for the outdoor patio which is conducive to drinking copious amounts of cold alcoholic beverages.
(3)
Stephanie H.
i guess i knew walking in here it wasn't going to be that great, but they tricked us for awhile there. i came here after going to the hopper exhibit at the mfa with my mother, two of her best friends, and three angsty teenagers. i live on the south shore and couldn't take driving in the city with my mother another second and with picky kids i knew we'd end up at a chain, so we headed out here. we actually were going to go to the cheesecake factory next door but they told us the wait was nearly three hours - what?! we suburbians sure do love our cheesecake factory. *eye roll* anyway, we went here instead because it was either this or the mall food court. i was surprised when i walked in, it actually looks really nice inside - compared with the name and the logo i was expecting an applebee's or something. we were seated right away and our waiter was very nice. my mother and her friend wanted to know what all this was about a "mojito" these days so i ordered one. it tasted good but i'm certain there was absolutely no alcohol in it. for double digit prices i was really annoyed. actually, i think i was paying for a mint plant, because i'm sure they stuffed the entire thing into my glass. it was hard to take a sip without the straw clogging with leaves and forget not using a straw...gross. anyway, the appetizers came out lightening fast and were pretty good. onion rings and bruschetta. but that's where the lovely service ended. we waited for our dinner. and waited. and waited. other tables sat down and were served and finished eating during this time. the waiter was obviously avoiding us. this is one of my huge pet peeves - i really don't care if it's not your fault, maybe something went wrong in the kitchen, i don't know, but we still would have tipped you well IF you just came over and apologized and let us know what the hell was going on. instead you hid in a corner with your thumb up your ass and refused to make eye contact with any of us. finally i stared at you so long you ran into the kitchen instead. the manager came over with him and apologized for the wait, but didn't say our food would be out soon and didn't offer to make up for it in any way. eventually one sad plate of salmon came out - it looked like a tv dinner. no seasoning, no grill marks, nothing, plain rice, and mushy steamed vegetables. charming. the angsty teenagers ordered the make your own fajitas, and they brought out just the tortillas and then left us waiting at least another ten or fifteen minutes before the filling came out, meaning the shells were now cold. our waiter also had an issue with the sizzling platters they were served on, as he brought them out still smoking and couldn't get them to stop. he started fanning at it wildly, pushing all the smoke right into the people at the table behind us. they did NOT look amused. i, however, burst into a fit of giggles. i ordered a salad which came out last [what?], was missing ingredients, and was served on a HUGE [like, i couldn't see anyone on the other side of my plate, venus on the half shell type] tortilla shell which was soggy from sitting around so long i guess. we couldn't wait to get out of here, and i won't be back.
(2)
deaner b.
My dh and I stopped in here for lunch today, after a quick trip to the Apple store to retrieve my dh's cell phone he left there the night before. We found a small table in the bar and the bartender "Marco" was very friendly yet professional and quite prompt. The entire staff seemed to work together very well and the guy who served our food was obviously there to do a good job - I was impressed. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Salad with wild greens - which is almost the perfect salad in my mind. Besides the obvious, it had feta cheese, cranberries & walnuts(chopped- yay!). Everything was great. My dh had a cheeseburger with onion rings and fries... he wasn't as pleased- he ordered the burger medium rare and it came well done, and his hamburger pet peeve.....it was the shape of a baseball not a patty. It wasn't terrible but his comment was - 'if you're gonna ask me how I want my burger-at least attempt to make it that way" He enjoyed the onion rings and fries. And the beer was super cold which is always a good thing. We will go back if we ever have a reason to be in Braintree. Almost forgot - the bread before the meal was superb - warm with butter and a crispy crust. Yum!
(3)
Matt L.
Having been to a few of these mediocre spots, I figured why battle the crowds at Cheesecake Factory to grab a quick lunch and go here. Most of the other locations are terrible with bad staff and bad food. I have to say this location was very quick on it's feet, pleasant, helpful and just all around not too bad. The food is the same although lunch was not as bad as the dinners I have gotten served here. The salads were inventive and the food was tasty and pleased at the same time. Although I still think of this as an upscale Applebee's, this location was okay.
(3)
Tan E.
wait wasn't too long waiter slow in ordering, took long time to get drinks food took forever for just a steak and crabcake salad. and it wasn't even that busy. bread didnt come till during the meal, should have came out before our entrees came out. food was Okay, just that the whole experience was below the below average. soda was flatter than a 5 yr boy. check process took forever as well.
(2)
Chris M.
I have to give them five stars for the blackened chicken pasta, one of the most complex dishes I've ever eaten. The escarole, when eaten with the chicken, adds a depth of flavor to the dish. All the parmesan was a little distracting though. I would have liked more red bell pepper. Although the escarole goes with the chicken it doesn't seem to go with the pasta. Maybe some chicken/escarole meatballs might be a good idea.
(5)
Krystle L.
Joe's offers a great menu and carries my favorite wine offered by the glass, so I did give the establishment 3 stars. The last couple visits to Joe's were not exactly what I would have preferred, but management took care of my concerns so I was happy with the service. The quality of food is excellent, but not consistent. Usually, lunch is the best option since service and quality are more likely to be better than the busier dinner hours.
(3)
ally o.
really, awesome service. i was here catching up with my friends and we got kind of carried away talking rather than eating our food. basic american food but tasted better than your average TGIFridays, Cheesecake Factory, etc. didn't catch our waitress' name but she was pretty patient and was on point with all our endless orders of food.
(4)
Karen S.
I generally like Joe's selection of food. However I had the mac & cheese last weekend and it was bland, bland, bland. The creaminess was great but it lacked any flavor.
(2)
Mike L.
Visited Joe's for father's day. I hadn't been to a Joe's in a few years. Maybe I'm wrong but it felt like the food quality has falllen off somewhat. Everything still tasted ok, I just remember it being better. My big complaint was with the service. Our appentizers and bread were served without plates, not a big deal. However, our entrees were served at different times, one was so late getting to the table we had to flag down the waitress and remind her we were still waiting.
(3)
Davina C.
I don't know why I bother really. It's a chain. Joe's is FINE. It's not amazing. It's not perfect chain food. It's no Cheesecake.... but it's fine. The last time I went I was hungry, in a rush, and needing some good old chain food to keep my shopping energy up. I ordered the chicken parm sandwich and, well, it sucked. I must have woke up under a strange star that day as I didn't say anything like I normally do. At the end of the meal the waitress asked it I would like it boxed. "No, it really wasn't that good", I replied. To which she said sorry and gave us the bill. To be fair, she did offer us some desert-- whether or not that was a freebie I have no idea as she didn't specify. I said no and we paid the bill and went on our merry way. I looked longingly at the Cheesecake Factory right next door and thought, "next time I am hankering for chain food I'll wait the extra 25 minutes."
(2)
Tammi M.
Went with our usual party of five for our monthly dinner out. Everything seemed ok at first. Service was fast and attentive. Everyone ordered something different. Food looked good, tasted fine. We left, going to do some shopping in the mall. About an hour after eating, we all felt really sick. Definitely made us cross Joe's off our list of places to revisit.
(2)
wsl l.
I came in here the other day for lunch. I must have caved b/c it was either food courts or this joint. I dont know how I end up in chain restaurats.. I always.. always..get disappointed. Well given the lunch time, the place was pretty buzzin and we were seated fairly quickly. Our party of 7 was seated at an uncomfortably small round table where the chairs were higher than the table itself?? The AC was on full blast and it was freezing.. goose bumps freezing. We ordered apps.. calamari and buffalo chicken tenders. I ordered the sliced sirloin w/rice pilaf. The sirloin was soooo bland, I had to add on endless salt and pepper for some flavor. The rice pilaf was not fully cooked and was served luke warm..?? I couldn't even finish my food b/c it was soo disgusting and i ended up ordering a coffee to offset my freezing ass.
(1)
Melody V.
I absolutely love Joe's American Bar & Grill. The staff is always friendly and professional. I always start off with an order of Crispy Calamari-- it's one of the best I've ever had! Joe's Original Burger is not only real good, but it's huge and made with fresh (not frozen) beef with a few choices of cheese. I love that I have options to what cheese I want on my burger. Once the burger arrives, they always ask me to cut into the burger to make sure it's made to my liking (medium). They have a lot of great condiments to go along with my burger. The soups and salads are delicious. I'm always satisfied with service and food here, as it is extremely consistent with every visit I have.
(4)
Alexandra M.
Strong drinks, good food, staff....complained about working a double and how is that my problem? Don't complain to us about it. I had the Caribbean rum runner to drink (staff 'corrected' the way I said Caribbean) which was really good and strong (all the ingredients are rum, so I'm not surprised. If you get the nachos, know you need 4 people to eat them. Really good with not too much extra stuff that other places sometimes put on nachos. Great cheese too.
(3)
Joie S.
I had a great dinner here this weekend. I was with one of my friends and her four year old niece. The food was great, but the five star review is mostly based on the service. We had such a great server, she was one of the best I have had in a really long time. She was really helpful with the menu, and so attentive. She brought drinks before ours were empty, she noticed that my friend needed more ice for her tea without her having to ask, and she made us feel like we were her only customers even though the place was packed. I'm really not usually a fan of chain restaurants, but this is one of the ones that I will visit again and again!!
(5)
Mandee F.
We had a spontaneous visit here on our way home from work and it was a fantastic first experience. Our waitress (Denise C) was on point with checking in on us often and we never had to look around to try to find her when we needed something. The apps came out quickly and the food followed maybe only 10 minutes after. Overall we had all of our food within about 20 minutes after ordering which was great, and we loved the food! Definitely a great choice for lunch or dinner and we'll probably visit again in the future.
(5)
Catherine G.
Busy weekend filled with chores then the dreaded what's for Sunday dinner question. Found the perfect answer right around the corner....Joe's American Bar and Grill. Started off with drinks a great mix with fresh squeezed juices and yummy rum. Then their made from scratch ginger ale - Delicious! Great Appetizers and dinner. The service was attentive and disarmingly charming. New menu with too many excellent offerings. The manager, Sean, dropped by to make sure we were happy, very impressive. He's got a great team which Made the entire evening relaxing, fun, and filling! Good job, well done. Can't wait to come again.
(5)
Elly W.
Didn't get waited on at Rodizio so we left and went here. We got seated and within two seconds was greeted by a waiter. He took our drink orders and was back in five minutes. He Then took our appetizer order. Then give minutes our entree. We ordered the crab cake, very good but had to share since it was only one. Plenty of meat in the cake. I had the scallop Risotto as my entree. The scallops were fresh but the Risotto some didn't seem cooked. My friend got the jumbalaya with shrimp and sausage. It was OK, only had one bite. Overall the staff were attentive and atmosphere was good.
(4)
Jonathan N.
I love their steak here. The menu is alittle bit pricey. Services is ok. The foods are descent depend on what you order. I think the restaurant could add alittle more light inside. I felt so doom and depress having dinner in the dark.
(4)
Geoffrey T.
Mediocre food, menu has changed a lot since I've last been here. No longer is the blackened chicken pasta on the menu. Had burger with sweet potato fries, burger was just okay, fries were undercooked, kids pasta meal came with overcooked pasta. Service was decent, although I was never offered sugar for my ice tea. Left hungry and disappointed. Will not visit again with Cheesecake Factory across the hall, nor wood I recommend to anyone until they make some big changes to make it like it once was.
(2)
Angelina W.
Nice environment, excellent customer service, great food. I love this place!!!
(4)
Anna Q.
This place has been opened for as long as I could remember probably since I was born and I just recently came. It is a huge restaurant in ssp not much people on a Monday night. The only problem was the food took a long time to come out other than that I would give this place a 4 star. I didn't get a picture of my fish sandwich, but it was a large portion for $12 and comes with a side dish totally worth it! If you like that fish sandwich from McDonald's this is 10x better lol - fish sandwich comes with pickles tomatoes lettuce and onions on the side if you want to put it in your sandwich and tartar sauce! There is also free wifi from the mall.
(4)
Beth R.
I can never get enough of that Joe's American B&G warmed bread & butter! Actually, my friends and I use-to fight over it when we were in high school. The clam chowder is delicious too, along with the salads & sandwiches. Waitstaff is usually good, although my company & I have been looked after by a couple of lackadaisical servers from time to time. Lastly, word to the wise: Go to the bathroom before you leave the house and try not to use theirs, which is located at the back of the restaurant, to the right of the kitchen and down a flight of stairs. It's 10 degrees warmer down there and it smells like a cesspool...brutal.
(3)
Tamara M.
We usually avoid chains, but being without wheels narrowed our options, and we decided to give Joe's a try at the recommendation of our hotel's shuttle driver. Our server was wonderful, super friendly and with a great attitude. We had a couple of beers before our meal, which arrived promptly. The house-made chili was a generous portion, with a good flavor. It was served in a large, dense bread bowl, and made a comforting meal for a cool, rainy day.
(3)
Sarah M.
This was my first time at Joe's--and I was ready to find another fun restaurant/bar to hang out at. The ambiance was dim and masculine. The wait staff were friendly and the menu was fairly typical with most dishes priced between $10-upper 20s. I ordered the clam chowder in the bread bowl. The first couple bites were pretty good but it tasted too much like what you'd buy in a can and the bread wasn't any better itself. The meal left me with a weird after taste and a resolve not to dine at Joe's again.
(1)
Billy L.
Been to Joe's in Peabody several times and based upon my good experiences at that location we decided to hit the one in Braintree for brunch today...BAD IDEA. They completely messed up the GF's omelette and then after being informed they didn't even remove it from the bill. I had the eggs benedict over filet and although the eggs were cooked perfectly the filet was horrible. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is for the fresh squeezed OJ and really good cappucinos. Service was lacking and I feel he took forever to come by. I never knew Joe's did breakfast on Sunday and now I know why.
(2)
Jeffrey L.
Great food at this branch, the chili is the best item on their menu but don't set expectations too high, it's a chain tavern after all still great though!
(5)
Jim D.
I sat at the bar with a friend today and had an $11 burger and a few draft beers. The food, service and atmosphere were pretty good. I hadn't had a burger out in a while, and this one hit the spot.. I liked that that they sneaked a few o-rings in with my fries. I also tried a little ahi tuna appetizer that my friend was having. It's not my thing, but he liked it a lot. One of he bartenders was friendly, but but the other one seemed like she didn't want to be there.
(3)
Art F.
Leaving Boston at 3:30 pm on a Friday in July, we arrived at Joe's tired and frustrated with traffic about 90 minutes later. We quickly relaxed (even without alcohol) in the casual ambiance and with the help of friendly and accommodating staff. No waiting really helped! Our party of two enjoyed two specials, a mussel and swordfish piccata over angel hair and crab stuffed flounder, done very well for a chain restaurant. We left relaxed and reinvigorated to continue our trip south in much lighter traffic.
(4)
Ivan H.
This place is great. Besides having the best bread and French fries, the service is impeccable. The manager, Dana is the best. The place is leaps and bounds above any chain restaurant you would normally find in a mall.
(5)
C B.
Came here for dinner. The waitress was at best mediocre. It took forever for our drinks, and I mean forever! We waited over an hour for our food which was served cold and had to be sent back. When visiting the rest room there was vomit on the floor and then proceeded to get served a beer with a fly in it. The waitress had to be reminded numerous times to bring an ice water, and that's when we could find her. I will say the manager was professional and rectified the issue of cold food quickly. Sadly this used to be one of my favorites, I won't be back.
(1)
Renuka V.
6 of us went there for lunch on a Fri at 1:30pm and the place was almost empty which felt emptier since tis huge inside! Had the crabcakes for main which was ok and had their house salad which was surprisingly good. For dessert, we shared the cherry pie which was simply delicious and deserves a whole extra star by itself.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Dalet Z.
So happy that Cheesecake Factory had a wait because we needed to eat NOW (before I had to go to work) otherwise we wouldn't have tried Joe's new menu! I was sad before when they got new management and got rid of my favorites. (One being the steak salad!) so I stopped going. I stopped recommending it to people. BUT I had heard they were gonna have a whole new menu. "Small bites" sounded exciting. I work by the Joe's in the north end but they won't have their new menu till after the summer. So here we came upon the Joe's in braintree (south shore plaza). I loved everything that I saw on the menu. We started off with a fish taco, a pulled pork slider and chicken wings off their "small bites" menu. The fish taco was almost perfect! They burnt the tortilla a little. And I just wish it was slightly bigger! But it was definitely my favorite thing that we got! Wings smoky and delicious on top of toasted bread and sautéed onions! The pulled pork sliders didn't care for too much. Something about that sauce. Overpowering. Too sweet maybe? Not sure. But took away from the pork flavor. Nick got "the cure" burger. BBQ ribs with a chipotle onion sole, arugula and a sunny side up egg. Sounds pretty bomb right?!? It could've been. But again something about that BBQ sauce. Not digging it so much. Nick felt the same (I swear it's not just me!) and the egg should've been runny. It was more like a fried egg. Overall though I'm super excited for the new menu! I can't wait to go back! And u can't wait for the Joe's in the north end to get the new menu. I'll be there all the time for the fish taco! :) Thank you Joe's! I have regained my faith in you!
(4)Shawna P.
We were staying at a nearby hotel and were starving. I was dying to try a lobster roll and was excited to see this on the menu. We get there and I stupidly didn't even look at the menu for other options because I was so excited to try a lobster roll. Lo and behold, they were sold out! I was pretty heart broken. I settled for ribs and the husband got fish and chips. The food was pretty average and not that great. One thing we noticed that seemed a little weird was when we first arrived it was pretty empty, yet there seemed to be a lot of noise? It was almost as if they music had background chatter to give off a more energetic vibe. Also we were seated near the kitchen entrance and many times a ton of the severs were all gathered around it talking to each other and neglecting the patrons. The only thing that seemed to "sweeten"up this meal was the cookie skillet. Basically, an average bar and grill that tries to come off as top notch, but falls short.
(2)Haleigh R.
Excellent service, the meal was delicious and made to perfection. Very accommodating for people with Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Vivian C.
This Joe's American Bar & Grill is located at South Shore Plaza by the Cheesecake Factory. I've driven or walked by many a Joe's - the one located by the water, the one on Newbury Street, and that one in Dedham - but never have I stopped, nor did I know that there was one at this mall. But many of the mall's stores' rolling grilles had been pulled down, and the lights in the plaza itself were dimming, and we had yet to eat, so in we walked. First off, the service we received was exceedingly good. I suspect that it may have been the manager himself serving us as one of the few parties dining that late in the dinner shift. He was generous with the extras we requested such as the lemon and lime wedges and the honey mustard, and made it evident to us that it was his pleasure to serve us with each interaction. Second, the food (on average) was really good, starting off with the full loaf of bread with the pleasantly crackly crisp crust protecting a soft center, served up with two swirls of soft butter. Two of us decided to share two different sandwiches. Our server took it upon himself to have them plated separately for us, which was quite considerate. Joe's Signature Burger $15 bbq sauce, crispy pork belly, white cheddar, maple cajun bacon jam, house cured pickles, arugula was a delicious, juicy mess. Prime Rib French Dip $15 shaved prime rib, horseradish creme fraiche, beef jus was tasty though a bit too soft. I prefer a contrast of textures, such as a crisper roll if the filling is on the soft and tender side. Both sandwiches came with our choice of fries or sweet potato fries for no extra charge. No question there - sweet potato fries all the way! A much easier choice than which entree. And their s.p. fries were really good! Sure they weren't particularly nor consistently crisp, but the natural sweet root flavor shined through. For a touch of green, I added an order of a side of garlic sauteed broccoli $3(?). It was on the small side, and the florets a bit more tender than I like it, but I could taste the garlic. I also sampled a DC's Blackened Chicken Fusilli $16 fusilli, blackened chicken, escarole, roasted red peppers, parmesan sauce. While the chicken was tender (with a bit of heat - it was blackened afterall!), and the sauce tasty, I found the pasta a bit too soft from overcooking. Bathrooms are located downstairs, and our booth was raised a single step.
(4)Matthew M.
I was looking for a good meal tonight, and I found it here, though the service was slightly lacking. Nothing quite as bad as other reviewers, but not what I expect from a place like this, charging the prices they are charging. My main issues were with the beginning and the end of the experience. After getting to the restaurant around 5:45 pm on a Wednesday evening, I was promptly seated, but then waited 4-5 minutes before my waitress came by or even acknowledged me. There was a party of 6 nearby, but the entire section was basically empty except for them, so this was somewhat surprising. Once she came by, though, she was friendly, and her service was prompt. I ordered the short rib meatloaf, which was UH-MAZING, and beautifully presented, as well. It also came out very quickly, which I liked. The meal was a beautiful combination of the savory meat and potatoes and the sweet red cabbage. I loved it. At the end of the meal, my waitress dropped the check off, and, admittedly, I didn't immediately put my card in for payment. She swung by once before I put the card in, and that was the last time I ever saw her. After a long time of waiting (the check book was standing with the card sticking out of the top, and everything) some OTHER waitress asked if I wanted to pay and took care of the rest. They were a bit busier by then, but I still found this bizarre. Overall, the food was great, the section on the menu seemed great, and the service was just "above average". I certainly wouldn't avoid this place in the future unless this is a trend. 4 out of 5 due to bizarre service.
(4)Rogaa S.
I'm sure it's probably not like this all the time.. but for my first time, not good at all We got this 80 degree weekend in late September out of no where in New England which is always a welcomed sight. but when our bodies are starting to acclimate to the temps of 60s low 70s that weekend just felt super hot and so indeed in side was hot as hell.. no A/C blowing fans nothing just doors and windows open but it didn't make a difference. Onto the food.. started with nachos, spinach artichoke dip and boneless buffalo. all very good. I'd say for a chain their spinach artichoke is by far the best i've had. I got the Joe american burger i think its called ? Its their signature burger so you cant miss it. It has pork belly, maple Cajun bacon, BBQ honestly the thing sounds amazing. food came out and as soon as i picked it up i could just feel all the grease soaked into the bottom bun. I could literally squeeze grease out, disgusting others in my party had gotten it too some were a little greasy some weren't at all so i can only assume mine finished first and sat under a heat lamp for a bit, while the others finished cooking, which i don't understand because why weren't they all done at the same time ?? The place wasnt busy at all Need less to say i tried eating it without the buns but i was so disappointed/pissed off that i just wanted to pay and leave. Uncomfortably hot + grease dripping burger = very unhappy customer
(1)Roberto H.
Why do I keep giving this location opportunities? Every time I've agreed to eat here, I am reminded of why I don't like coming to the Joe's at South Shore Plaza. Today, our server, who has given me less than satisfactory service before, put the final nail in the coffin. I asked for bread after placing our order. Our server replied: "Ok, but it's gonna take 20 minutes." I was slightly taken aback by the response because I had never heard a caveat like that. We decided to cancel our request. Eventually, our food finally came out after a substantial wait. A surprising fact since there were very few diners in the restaurant. Our server asked if I wanted ketchup. I said yes, and that is the last we saw of him. I never got that ketchup. He never came back to refill our drinks. We were on our lunch break and had to return back to work, but we couldn't even ask for our bill. We asked the host, but he said our server would get it for us as soon as he's done with a meeting. We asked two other servers who happened to walk by for our bill so we can leave, but both said that a meeting was taking place and that our server would come by as soon as the meeting was done. Excuse me? A meeting was taking precedence over the diners in their restaurant?? And if this meeting was so important, then why did he even take a table in the first place and why couldn't the host simply print out the bill??? When our server finally came returned to our table, he explained his absence by telling us "the big bosses are here." So you're telling me that "the big bosses" will reprimand you for servicing your customers? After this, I simply no longer wish to give this restaurant another chance.
(1)Ann L.
Enjoyed a light dinner with three others. The food was tasty and mine in particular which was a Fresh tuna with avocato over salad was very good. Not expensive, and basically bar food. The only negative was that it was very noisy.
(4)Delroy H.
The service is always subpar however the new menu has some new flavored wether trying. It would be much better if the service was better.
(4)Mark T.
So I'm at a table I asked the waitress for a joes burger with bacon lattice pickle and mayonnaise so I get my burger it has onions and tomatoes. The burger was disgusting. She asked would i like my burger re-heated or redone. She brigs the freshly done burger without my mayonnaise but everything else is done properly. The burger was pretty unappetizing at this point.
(1)Michael S.
Just here for drinks as we wait 1.5 hours for our table at cheese cake factory. Service very good, opened fresh bottle of wine. No wait and great service. Beer selection is weak but serviceable. Calling cheese cake factory to see if they will deliver. Didn't have any food here tonight but others around us looks good and came quickly.
(4)Rob D.
I probably will never be going back. The waiter didn't know what was in the egg brunch. I got it assuming the harvest egg brick was just veggies and home fries. He then said bacon. No bacon And contained sausage which I don't like. That would of been a 3 star but after I looked at the bill. 50 dollars? HAHAHAHAH for what??? Who ever goes there is getting ripped off.
(1)Katie C.
Our past several visits have been really less than satisfactory as of recently. It seems as if the service has continued to get worse. Visit #1: My mom and I stopped in while shopping at the Plaza. We sat at one of the high-top tables adjacent to the mall entrance. And waited. And waited. When our server finally appeared, it was very clear he was new and was somewhat taken aback when we were ready to order both drinks and meals at the same time. Why wasn't I surprised when my entree came out incorrect? It's a salad. How hard is it to screw up? In this case, we just wanted to pay and leave. Visit #2: Hubs and I stopped in before New Year's after running some errands in Braintree. We sat at the bar and ordered our drinks. We split an order of nachos that came out a little longer than we expected. That should have been our first clue. Then, we waited 47 minutes for two chicken caesar salads. No apology from either of the bartenders or a manager on duty. Instead, they were concerned with getting the drunktards next to us with expense accounts another round of drinks and nachos. It was not pleasant. So, what should have taken about an hour or so for dinner took nearly two hours. Needless to say, we just wanted to pay and get the hell out. We never made it to the rest of our places to visit in the mall ... oh yeah, because it took almost two hours. Visit #3: My in-laws insisted on visiting here one night so we did. Our server was nice, but she hadn't learned the concept of pre-bussing. Empty glasses (lots). Empty soup cups. Empty appetizer plate and bread plates. There was literally no room to put our entrees on our table. So rather than clearing them ... I kid you not, she stacked them in the middle of the table. For the effort it took to stack them, she could have easily cleared them. The food is rather average. Nothing particularly outstanding. But bad service that is constantly getting worse? Sorry, I'll spend my money elsewhere for a simple caesar salad.
(2)Donna S.
An good option if you don't want to do the food court or the hell that is Cheesecake Factory. Onion soup is always good. It's a bit loud but tune it out with a pint.
(4)Rob W.
Just left Joe's a couple of hours ago. In short; we had a very nice dinner. It was rather empty as it's Halloween night, so obviously we got seated right away. But our server, Sal, approached us right away and took our drink order. He was very friendly, professional and attentive. Our food was excellent. I had the Blackened Chicken Fusilli and my girlfriend had the turkey burger. Everything was great. I dine here occasionally and never really had much to complain about. But this evenings visit deserves high-marks. See you again soon!
(4)Michael Z.
What happened to this place?! The new menu is HORRIBLE! It's actually an absolute nightmare and beyond disappointing. What happened to the classic menu items like blackened chicken pasta and the rubin? And carrot sticks with the spinach and artichoke dip? No more crostini? What a shame to see such a great restaurant fall right into the garbage. I will certainty not be returning until they turn this place around.
(1)Jill M.
This review is mostly about service, not the food particularly. Sunday night, party of 10. Our server was Deirdre or something like that, not 100% sure on the spelling of her name. As a bartender myself, working in the service industry, I see a party of 10 as a great ending to a night, you are probably going to make a nice tip off this large party. We arrived around 7:30 or so and were coming from a wake. I can't even begin to understand or explain how rushed our server made us feel. It was not busy, being a Sunday night. If it was busy and she needed to get our order ASAP or would't be back for a long time, I would have understood. She made us feel like she needed to get out of there, needed us to leave, so she could go and have a fun night herself. We were of course not offered coffee or dessert (which would have actually been nice), she made a very clear point of asking us a few times "can I bring the check over?". Some of us still eating, literally, fork in hand, she asked "can I wrap that for you?" "are you still working on that?" Yes, actually, I have food in my mouth so can't even really answer your ridiculous question. I would not go back after this terrible service. Our bill was over $300 and I didn't even want to leave close to a decent tip, which is not me. We ended up leaving about 15% and I hated even doing that. She would have definitely made $60-70 on our large party in only a short hour in a half had she been any good at her job. Sorry, but I've been a server for over 16 years and I could not validate anything she did. All of us had a problem with her.
(1)Ryan A.
Decided to give Joe's another try after one dissapointed visit. It is safe to say I will not be coming back here. The price you pay does not reflect the quality of food and service you will receive. Food is average at best, the sweet potato fries are soggy. The only good thing about Joe's is the French onion soup. I left here wishing I'd gone to the Cheesecake Factory next door. Do yourself a favor and save your money.
(2)Old G.
This popular regional chain has new corporate owners and recently redid the entire menu (at least the one in Braintree). Prices have increased dramatically and they seem to load on the salt, presumably to increase drink sales. They used to have wonderful french fries that were hand cut. The new ones are your standard thin McDonald's type. The new menu seems more extensive (and expensive) but it seems a noticeable step down in quality IMHO. Oh well...the staff is friendly...
(2)Julia T.
I love Joe's. I think their food is always so great and fresh and can't be compared to any "bar" food because it is 1000x better. However, I was extremely disappointed when I went to order the wild greens salad and was told that they were no longer serving it at this location, and even worse, they would remove it from all locations in September. The wild greens salad was by far my favorite meal at Joe's and I can't say with confidence that I'll be back any time soon once they remove it permanently.
(3)Yen P.
What a horrible disappointment. We had a turkey burger with mushrooms and it was dry, tasteless, and rather burnt. The mushrooms were cold and the fries were soggy. The pickle was pinky size. Also the Cobb salad which tasted like trash can! We should have gone to the food court and would be less expensive and better food.
(1)Christine N.
I came in last weekend after speaking with the GM Dana. She was so understanding of my previous situation and invited me back in. I was a little hesistant but she did mention that the server I had before was no longer there so I felt much more comfortable about coming in. I came in during a busy lunch and I was seated right away. Dana came over to say hello and we got Brittany as our waitress. She was sweet and very attentive. During a lunch rush, sometimes servers get frazzled and forget to check in or forget to fill up waters but she was on top of everything. Not just with us but I noticed with her tables around us. We were in and out for lunch but it was nice being able to give joes another try. I'll put it back on my list of places to have lunch at!
(5)Bob L.
Food was decent and service was good. My complaint was we were there on a very warm and humid evening and they had all the doors open from the outside dining area. It was so hot and humid inside the dining area it was really uncomfortable. Everybody was really hot while eating and couldn't wait to leave. I guess that's one way to sell more beer! Wouldn't go back on a warm day again for that reason. Food was typical and decent not great but as expected for a mall restaurant.
(3)Carolina E.
Classic upper American cousine.
(3)Claire D.
So I'm alarmed at the table we sat at. 10 pieces of gum stuck underneath and scratched on top? Ew. Clam chowder was ok, the creamy part was awesome but clams were chewy. Beer was awesome. Hubby's burger was cooked all the way through when he asked for medium rare. But was starved and ate the whole thing. I was an idiot and didn't realize the pulled chicken and cranberry walnut salad would have dark meat. Yuck. Cold, the dressing quickly made everything soggy and the chicken was cold, not a good combo for me, maybe someone else would like it. I would like that dressing on salad tho in general! Our waitress was super nice and very attentive. I feel bad I sent the salad back but I couldn't eat it. Unfortunately joes is off the list :(
(3)Zak T.
Just had another fantastic meal at Joe's American Grill. The new chili lime salad was great and the homemade dressing really stepped it up a few notches. The staff was on point and did a great job throughout the evening. We will definitely be returning soon.
(5)Nganie L.
Don't come here for steak! Service is good. Our waitress is really nice but that is all. I was craving for steak but I don't want to go to Boston on a Saturday night. Got steak frites, asked for medium. Came out just barely cook. More like raw. Asked to be cooked a little bit. The same steak came out black and beyond well done! I believe the term is burnt. My potatoes was just dry and hard. No amount of butter or ketchup can help.
(2)Melanie W.
I've recently had two completely opposite experiences that this location of Joe's. I guess I'd really rate it 2.5 stars, but I'll round up. I used to go to Joe's a lot when I was younger because it was in the mall, which was where I spent most of my Friday nights in high school. I came back a couple months ago for the first time in a long time, and the experience was just fine. My server was really friendly and attentive. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli and it was really good with roasted root vegetables and walnuts. No complaints, but maybe just a tad bit less butter. The last time I was here, I was really disappointed with everything. I came in with a bunch of family as a quickly thrown together celebration for me passing my nursing boards. It should be noted that I had originally picked the Cheesecake Factory, but by the time we would have been called to eat, I would have already passed my nurse practitioner boards. We ordered a bunch of drinks to start, and they took forever to get there. About 20 minutes. The waiter did run by sometimes and say that they will be there shortly, but ti still took a really long time. When the drinks came, we were beyond ready to order food. One of my cousins (who is still a kid), ordered a burger well-done, and the waiter proceeded to make fun of him and say that his order was going to hold up everyone's food. I thought that was inappropriate. I ordered the braised prime pork sandwich. And we waited, and waited, and waited. Now, I know we were warned because of the burger, but it still seemed like a really long wait. I would have thought less of it if our drinks hadn't taken so long to come out earlier. When I got my sandwich, I was really disappointed. It wasn't really what I was expecting. The demi-glaze had mushrooms in it, which was not on the menu. I hate mushrooms and never would have ordered it had I known. When I brought this up to the waiter and he just shrugged and said "oh, yeah, that's the glaze". There was no offer to try to rectify the situation. So I was left taking bits of food from my family in order to eat that night. In addition, the fries were cold, like they had been plated way before the rest of the food. I was really disappointed as this was supposed to be a celebration, and it turned out to be a pretty awful experience. It left me feeling pretty "meh" about Joe's and if it hadn't been for that earlier experience, the stars would be much lower.
(3)Jacklyn T.
Reserved a party for 8, and they called on the day of the party to confirm our reservation! The food was excellent and our waitress was excellent and always filling our waters when it was needed. We brought a cake and kept it in the fridge while we had dinner. Perfect night! I was very impressed! Definitely deserves 5 stars!
(5)Trisha T.
Went to Joe's for a late lunch today around 3pm and it was a mob scene. We waited about 20 minutes for a table, which we didn't mind, then were seated near the kitchen. Our waitress seemed extremely stressed from the crazy busy atmosphere and I was under the impression they were very understaffed. After ordering we received half a load of bread. Typically wouldn't mind, but given that we waited quite a while for our meal it would've been nice to have had more, especially since all the other couples around us got full loaves. We received our meals after about a half hour and literally had seen our waitress once after we'd ordered inquiring about refills. Couldn't wait to finish our meal and head out. Food was decent, service, not so good...we were disappointed and feel Joe's should've been more prepared.
(2)T L.
Whatever they're doing, I hope they keep doing it! They have a from-scratch kitchen, so they are able to accommodate food allergies. The grilled mussel appetizer is amazing. (I wish they'd bring it back!) I really enjoyed the fish sandwich. As someone who doesn't eat a lot of fried food, I like that you can order your sandwich/burger with a salad instead of french fries. I also like that you can order any sandwich or burger with a lettuce bun. My friends ordered the prime rib and the Blackhawk Grille Short Rib Meatloaf. Both dishes got good remarks. The staff were helpful and the manager was constantly around and watching. A good sign. Will definitely be back. :)
(5)Lisa M.
The bread is so good, along with the whipped butter! I ordered the chicken club which is yummy. They can accommodate what you don't want. Just be CLEAR! The waiter did a good job! I ask for no mayo on my sandwich & got no mayo on my sandwich!!! :) I asked for BBQ sauce on the side & there on the edge of my plate was BBQ sauce filled to the top. Also , the sweet potato fries are crispy...but watch out for the pickles that come with your sandwich ... That came make your bread & fries slimy. Next time, American Joe's should put pickles in a cup. The brownie sundae is super rich Godiva milk chocolate !!!!!! Mmmmm. Once in awhile treat! Comes in a pan & it's deffff worth sharing BCUZ it was more than enough for two people. Friday nights , I order takeout on my way home from work& every time I pick my food up.... It's always ready & the hostess is quick! Now I got my dinner & Netflix to enjoy my night!
(5)Shirley Y.
Very surprised to find this restaurant have so few stars and some poor ratings. We like to come in once in a while after shopping at the mall. The wait time for a table really depends on the day, but generally, even on a Friday night, there's much less of a wait than what's across the way at the cheesecake factory. As for the food, everything we've had so far was delicious. To start off, their bread is wicked awesome. We asked the waitress what was in it (she said lots of butter, and 3,000 calories a loaf!) But it's awesome. Definitely recommend the crab cakes and the prime rib au jus. Oh, and the baby back ribs! Girls, it's tough to finish the full rack (2lbs), but for guys, it's pretty satisfying to finish, I heard. Dessert is so-so, but the skillet cookie is definitely different. If you're a fan of salted caramel, go for the cheesecake. Top it all off with a drink, and voila, a perfect night!
(4)Caitlyn T.
Went there with my boyfriend Monday night. I had baby back ribs and he had the blackened chicken pasta. Both were pretty good and the massive portion sizes allowed us to have them for lunch the next day. A much less overwhelming menu in comparison to the cheese cake factory next door. The service was awesome and we will definitely be back!
(4)Stephanie F.
I've heard great things about Joe's and I have to say, it didn't live up to the talk of the town. The hostess dragged me and my boyfriend to 2 different tables which were both not cleaned, back up front to wait for a clean table and then finally to a clean table. Usually thats something that wouldn't bother me, however, I saw her try to sit 3 other couples at the same table and she kept going "Opps, Sorry...One moment" then she would bring them to a clean table. Finally our waiter came over and he took our drink orders...messed them up and gave us sprite instead of water. Then he took or food order...didn't write it down and then came back to re-ask me what I ordered. We had ordered an appetizer and after 25 minutes of waiting it came out with our food. Both of our dinners we incorrect even though he asked us twice...we were too hungry to have them fix it over all not my favorite restaurant in braintree...probably wouldn't go back unless cheesecake factory and all the other restaurants had long waits and even then I would question it before we went.
(2)Aaron K.
OK when I first wrote a review for this place I went overboard with 5 stars. I've had better burgers since but they still put out a great quality burger for the price. On my most recent visit I splurged and went for their crabcakes. They were awesome, tons of chunks of crab meat pretty much no filler, just enough breading to hold them together. Tartar sauce made them taste fantastic. I would definitely come back for this dish in the future. Highly Recommended.
(4)Ryan L.
Wasn't even served. Sat for over 10 minutes. Nobody came by our table. The manager on duty is clueless too.
(1)Maura M.
I usually love joes but today it just isn't the same. We asked our waitress 3 times for bread and she never brought it! That is like the best part of Joes! Our dinners came out quickly and my salad was good. I just don't know if I'd be dying to come back. They have huge air conditioning vents like industrial size in there blocking many tables. It's just a sight for sore eyes. It's not what I was expecting to see walking in. It's kind of expensive too $50 for two people who got dinner and 2 beers. It was ok but wasn't something to rave about.
(3)Emily F.
I really like this bar/restaurant. Music is quiet enough, not too busy a place, and the waitstaff pays attention to you. I ventured for the special this time(a salmon dish), and I loved it ! If you are going for the first time, the clam chowder in a bread bowl is YUMMY, and they bring delicious bread to the table too. Burgers are good too. Food came quick, and when my server gave a crappy bar recommendation, he got me something new and took it right off the bill. I very much recommend this place.
(4)Rebecca V.
Love their sourdough bread. Great, service. I had their Ahi tuna. It was okay. It could have been seared a bit better. My husband had their crab cake dinner...really not enough food for any man if you ask me. I know their food is quality but the prices could be a little lower.
(2)Karen W.
If you are looking for an "eating experience" let me give you some guidance. 1st - got to the bathroom before you get to the Braintree American's Joes' - I recommend the Mobile Gas Station on the corner - their bathrooms are CLEANER! 2nd. After you get to the mall for your dining experience at American Joe's - GO UPSTAIRS AND EAT AT THE FOOD COURT!. I know that you're looking for the experience at American's Joe's but please, for your safety and wellbeing - eat upstairs first... the wait for actual food is between 45-85 minutes -do not go in there hungry - you'll be hungry after storming out - eat upstairs and it will give you more stamina to get through the ordering process and the crappy food. You might ask why this review is so bad. Aside from my own experience this weekend, I witnessed something I never through I would see in this day and age. A mother/daughter came in to eat. I heard the mother ask for the manager and then tell the manager that the bathrooms were "filthy and disgusting". I had not gone to the bathroom yet... so, being nosy I went down stairs to check it out. The actual stench coming up the stairs did not stop me as I wanted to see what the ladies room actually looked like. It was DISCUSTING. I checked the 6 stalls and still could not decide which was least nasty to go into. I just changed my mind and went back upstairs - I decided to "hold" it until I could get to the food court (upstairs) and use the "public" bathroom. I figured it was cleaner (and I was right too). 3rd on to the food... You need to understand that this was/is not a cheap restaurant most of the dishes were over $10.00. I only ordered one thing because right as I was about to order my main course/dish - the mother/daughter team (which had been there for about 1 hour) angrily stormed out after asking to speak with a manager again. I was embarrassed for the company and myself as I could clearly see that their waiter did not want to serve them. The managerial staff did not want to serve them. Ultimately, they sat in the restaurant for over an hour and did not get served. It was shameful and embarrassing... I will never eat in the place again. I have eaten at both the Braintree and Dedham places and I can tell you that after witnessing the behavior of the staff and management I will be recommending that everyone I know avoid this place like it has the plague. The racsis plague...
(1)Joe K.
Waited 15 mins for a drink order, 45 mins for dinner and my steak was well done!! As a customer I'm, well, done!
(1)Irene R.
If you want a burger cooked right this is the place to go. The chef not only knows how to properly cook a burger, but the wait staff is able to tell you what the inside will be like (since most people tend to overcook burgers). The decor was a nice pub style and our server was really attentive. Now I'm craving another burger.
(4)Shannon I.
I haven't been to this location in a while. I remembered that I enjoyed my meal last time I went there. I also like the look of the place and atmosphere. I stopped by on Friday with my teenage son because I was doing a little shopping in the plaza. I love Joe's blackened chicken pasta - but this was my first experience having it at this location. There was too much escarole - it outweighed every other ingredient in the dish so it was a bit overwhelming. I also noticed that the serving was much smaller at this location. I used to order it at the Hanover location and there was always enough to eat and take home to nibble on later. I miss the Hanover portions. My son got the mac n cheese. He only took a couple bites and then had it wrapped to go. I warmed it up and ate it (with his blessing) since he apparently abandoned the meal - I didn't finish it. The taste was very bland - there was no real cheese flavor to the sauce. I didn't want to waste precious calories on a bland meal so I tossed it. It's not a dish I would ever order or recommend from them. But the main thing that bothered me were the fruit flies. We were swatting at fruit flies throughout our meal. We weren't very close to the kitchen either - so that makes me wonder how bad the problem is if they had floated way over to us at our table. Fruit flies are kitchen specific - they don't just randomly come in through a window. So that was less than appetizing. The waiter was really nice though - busy - but as attentive as he could be considering he had a full section. I probably won't go back there anytime soon, if ever. There are a lot of places to eat at the plaza, so I will probably try something else next time I go there.
(2)Stephen M.
We had Jay as our waiter, started off good then went downhill fast. He got his second wind just before the bill came. Ha.
(2)Meg D.
I have been to this location numerous times. I have gone for brunch, lunch and dinner, and have always enjoyed my meal. Some of my favorites are for brunch the corned beef hash with eggs and sun dried tomato hollandaise sauce. This isnt hash out of a can kids, its legit, and delicious, not too greasy/salty like you find at some diners. For lunch/dinner I love their Onion soup, perfect for a cold day, and also their ahi tuna appetizer is great too. My go to for dinner has recently been the burger with a lettuce bun. Service is usually good, sometimes on brunch it can be spotty, but other than that no real complaints.
(4)Roni J.
Not at all what it used to be. Our burgers were cooked medium rare to order and that plus one refill of iced tea were the high points of our lunch yesterday. The low points - cold fries, a whole grain bun that was cool, should have been grilled or at least warmed up to complement the burger rather than detract from it, and an indifferent waitress who never came by to check on us and responded with a shrug about the cold fries. I remember the burgers and hot crispy fries at joes were always a treat. Not so much anymore, and won't be back.
(2)Robert C.
Joe's used to be a favorite spot for me, and it pains me to say this is no longer the case. The place is a pretty mediocre dining destination now. The quality of the food now seems pretty average for a mall restaurant, yet the prices on the menu seem to have gone up. I don't mind paying a bit more for a high-quality meal, but the food seemed no better than other chain restaurants you might find in and around a mall. They have a few new menu items, like the Blackhawk Grill Short Rib Meatloaf, which is a really fancy name for a very plain tasting meatloaf that certainly wasn't worth the $18 price. Some of the unique features, like coffee served with little individual coffee pots that a waiter would pour for you, are gone. Just a regular mug of coffee now. Complimentary alcoholic drinks with weekend brunch orders seem to be gone too.
(3)Lauriane W.
I haven't been to Joe's in ages and was dying for there crab cakes. I go to use the restroom downstairs and was horrified at the disgusting smell that created me at the top of the stairs! It got worst as I walked down the stairs and entered the bathroom. I was very saddened to kno that a place where people eat would smell so awful. And to make my visit even worst, sum bone head never brought my appetizers out, n offered to still send them home with me no charge. Problem was by the time I got home my fried Calamari was soggy! Not a day at Joe's ; (
(2)Jenna L.
My mom and I went here for dinner on a Friday night and were pleasantly surprised that there was no wait to be seated. The hostess was friendly and our waiter took our drink order almost immediately. After our drinks were delivered and we placed our order, it was about 40 minutes before we saw our waiter again. After getting our food, we didn't see our waiter until he came to give us the bill. I'm still giving this place 4 stars because it's understandable that the staff was busy on a Friday night and our food was delicious!
(4)Jeff S.
Very busy but service excellent. Had the blackened fish sandwich, plus a cup of clam chowder. Delicious! Love this place for a quick, inexpensive but good tasting meal.
(4)Jesse F.
Very good. We were pleasantly surprised. We only went here because the Cheesecake Factory had a 20 minute line just to put our names down. Food: (Grade: A-) Appetizers were good. The nachos weren't that great, but the calamari and spinach dip were delicious. My filet was a great piece of meat and it was cooked perfectly. My niece got the same cut, but her's was a bit overcooked. My party also had the Mac and Cheese, which along with the ribs, got great reviews. Service: (Grade: B+) Our server was decent, but he was sort of slow. We had a large party (10), so I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt. Price: (Grade: A) It was cheap for the quality of the food. We anticipated less because of the prices, but it ended up being very high in taste and quality.
(4)Theresa F.
The food was pretty good. This isn't bad for a mall joint, you can get some nice hot food and a drink and go about your business shopping and all. Not my favorite service, but I wasn't upset at anything in particular. I'd go again during shopping.
(3)Jimmy S.
OVERALL: Meh. Quality: 3 stars. Typical mall food. Was cold when it arrived. Would have sent it back but we all know what happens to your food when you do that... Service: 2 stars. The guy barely stopped by. Could have used some extra beers and a few sides, but he literally stopped by once. Atmosphere: 3 stars. Decent bar, lots of seating. Nothing spectacular. Price: 3 stars. Decent. Again, middle of the road. Notes: So on our (my wife and I) mall adventure we needed to stop to refuel both our stomach's and our blood alcohol level. We stopped by Cheesecake factory but the 45 minute wait was not appealing. Off to Joe's, with no wait. Seated rather quickly, friendly front staff. We sat in our booth, reviewing the menu for about 15 minutes. Our server finally stopped by and took our drink order. We both ordered a beer and some bar food (I think a burger and something else) to tide us over. We literally did not see our server for another 45 minutes. Beers were empty, stomachs were empty, and we had to flag someone down. He finally arrived back with our cold food. We needed some mayo, ketchup, etc. but he was like a ghost. Nowhere to be seen. So cold food and empty beer glasses. Most likely, we will not be stopping by again.
(3)TinoX T.
Nice Food,Good mood,Cool Prices
(3)Nicole L.
This place came recommended but I found the steak bland and had to use A1 just to get some enjoyment out of it. It was a bit too pricey for what you get. Visited: September 27, 2012
(2)Paul W.
First of all I am horribly appalled at the direction the service industry is going in. Never in all my life have I had such an unpleasant experience anywhere. Where do I even start, I and my partner went there on a Friday night and was rudely greeted by hostess who you could tell could care less about her job. We had a little wait went over to bar which was fine. The horror started when we were seated once again by this miserable hostess with no silverware. So minutes which almost turned into hours go by and still no waitress although everyone keeps walking by us. Had to suck up everything to approach hostess looking for waiter. She had informed me server would be right over yeah ten minutes later. She comes over takes our order for app and another round of drinks which took well over 20 minutes to get and then apps came with no silverware. The entrees are another story. We order our main meal which once again took absolutely forever and the runner dropped off food but couldn't even bother to take our finished appetizer at this point I was just absolutely appalled. They screwed up my order and my partner was not at all pleased with the prefrozen cod he ordered. The waitress's never even said sorry oh and ac was broken. This was by far the worst restaurant chain I have ever been to and was horrified at the service provided. Will not be going back again!
(1)Jeff P.
Great American food, specializing in New England faire. Tasty beer selection. Friendly bartender. Above average mall food.
(4)Karen V.
I went here tonight for food & drinks and can hardly believe the way the bartender treated us. From the start she behaved like it pained her to serve us, " what can I get ya" rudely. didn't smile once, threw us dirty looks for the entire time we were sitting quietly having a conversation trying to ignore her attitude.. Never once asked if our food was ok or if we needed anything, asked begrudgingly if we wanted another drink. When my friend asked if we could have the check she rudely asked " what is it?" with a sour face. really Joes? I used to come here more often and have been a few times recently but this is by far the worse service I have experienced, no need for it, plenty other places at the mall.
(1)CJ G.
You know after seeing this place I kicked and screamed like a little kid not wanting to go with my friends and girlfriend! When I think "American Grill" I think American style food! Like hot dogs, burgers and fries. The very type of food they sell here. I just refuse to pay $12+ for a burger at any joint! No matter how good it is. Call me cheap if you will but that's just how my mind is set! With that being said! I can tell you that I was wrong. The food here was great and worth every penny that we paid for it! I ordered a bowl of Mac and Cheese with bacon! It was very creamy and yummy! Bacon had been cooked to perfection and it only left me wanting more! Now that's an American dish if you ask me! And as the late George Carlin would put it..."The Statue of Liberty would be holding a giant bowl of mac and cheese instead of the torch!" (This is the clean way of saying it!) And after coming here...I must agree! After dinner I had some carrot cake to finish me off! After that I was ready for bed! The service here was pretty good too. Wait staff was friendly and the food came out on time! Anytime I needed a refill on my drink she was there! So after all of my whining I am happy to report that I was wrong. I now have no issues going to Joe's in the very near future!
(4)Michael C.
I am a real fan of the Back Bay Restaurant group of which Joe's American Bar and Grill is a member. No Matter which Joe's I have gone too, the food and service is excellent. Tonight was no different. I had the Chicken Curry Soup (It's Awesome). I always get it when they have it. My Guest had the Onion Soup, Its also Awesome. My guest had the Cheese Bacon Sandwich. I have never had it. But they told me it was great. I had the Strip Steak. For the money, it was an awesome steak. For a chain this is as good as it gets !
(5)Storm L.
have ordered in before and it always takes awhile for the food to arrive and their steaks are cooked perfectly and await to see if it is done properly for you. For the first time I ordered out and did burgers both well done. They were charred dry and one still had the stick in it stating what is was buried under the toppings and bun!!. McDonalds is better and no worry of getting physically hurt by biting into it! Only eat steak and expect loooooong waits for food no matter what you order or how empty it is
(2)Sean G.
Joe's is probably the best place to eat at the Plaza. The menu is a good size plenty of options without being overwhelming. Its never crazy busy which I find strange because I find the food here to be much better then the Cheesecake Factory. I've never had a bad meal here.
(3)Ryan M.
I've read other reviews about it being a great alternative to cheese cake factory which is next door. I'm very glad my wife and I tried this place. The service we received was awesome, our server was extremely friendly, attentive, and answered any questions we had. For the first time in my life, I tried the famous blue crab and it lived up to the hype. Sorry, but I'm from Hawaii and we don't have blue crab dishes. The taste and texture was delicious, it was definitely sweeter then king crab legs. The pasta dish I had was the Chicken & Broccoli Ziti and it was delicious. If you're not a creamy sauce fan, I don't recommend it because it's pretty creamy, but the pasta isn't swimming in the sauce. My wife had the chopped cobb salad which had a ton of ingredients. Generally you think salad's aren't filling, but let me tell you, this one is and this dish makes you full! I would highly reocmmend this place because it's comparable to Cheese cake factory and probably isn't as busy!
(5)Brian L.
Came here with my some of my family after some shopping. I'll say that I was famished, so the food may have tasted extra good to me. I'll say the bread here is quite good. It's a circle loaf, with the outside flaky/crispy. The inside is super fluffy - really good flavor. I like to keep my bread fluffy, but it was difficult with this bread, as it was way fluffy on the inside, and to rip it, you sort of have to crush it. I got the bacon cheeseburger. It wasn't very big, but the flavor was fine. It was fresh and cooked to the way I liked. Came with some french fries, 2 onion rings, and a pickle. I ate some chicken club (a bit too much mayo and not massive like some club sandwiches you see), and some of the NY strip (flavorful, juicy, pretty good). I thought it was a fine meal, and I'd def go back if I'm in the neighborhood. One point I need to make though, is that our waiter was great - very nice, not overly attentive (good thing), and very cordial. I believe his name was Dan, and he definitely made it a more pleasant night (would've been better if I wasn't about the gnaw on my arm from the hunger, haha).
(4)Margo L.
What a disappointment as I had recommended this place for a girls night out. The medium rare blue cheese burger I ordered came with American cheese instead and was well done. The other food we ordered was just OK (the fries were especially lackluster). The first table we were seated at was greasy and full of crumbs (we opted to move). And it was very dark. The waitress was very extremely nice which saved the night.
(3)Alexander M.
I first discovered Joe's American Bar and Grill on Newbury St in Boston as an inexpensive alternative to the high-dollar restaurants in the Back Bay. I learned that there were multiple locations, one of which is in Braintree. The service is excellent, and the food is great! The bread is quite delicious. The food comes reasonably fast, and the entrees are nothing short of superb. The recently revamped menu seems a bit smaller than the old one, but the quality is still the same. This place is now a favorite spot of mine.
(5)Laura C.
Ok. The good things first: the onion soup was delicious, as always, and the herb vinegrette salad dressing is delicious. These are the only reasons for the 2 stars. Unless you are looking for soup and salad, do not come here! My husband and I sat at the bar. He ordered onion soup and cheeseburger med. I ordered side salad and cheeseburger med-well, side of mayo. The soup and salad came out pretty fast. I asked the bartender for bread. He shook his head, yes, but we never got our bread. About 30 mins later, our burgers were nowhere to be found. The bar back, not even the bartender, apologized and said he would bring them out as soon as its ready. The bar back, not the bartender, asked to refresh our drinks. After waiting 40 mins, we got our food, mine, no mayo. Their once signature hand-cut fries were frozen fries. Their once thick juicy hand-packed burgers were frozen patties. For $12 per burger plus $1.00 extra per topping, I expect a lot more. My med-well burger was actually cooked med-well. My husband's med burger was cooked well. The burger buns were cold and were twice the size of the burgers. Come on Joe's, for a $48 tab (including the $7 house salad, and I ordered the $4 side salad) I expect something better than glorified fast food. We could have gone to McDonald's a few doors down for much less $$ and friendlier service. Joe's used to have one of the best burgers & fries around. Now, don't even bother. The service is slow, the food quality is awful, the prices are high, and the bartender is indifferent to the customers. Jan 31, 2014 Response to Dana M: While I do appreciate your comments and following up with the bar staff, that was only part of the problem. I believe the bigger problem lies with kitchen management, food quality, and food prices. I can live with indifferent staff if the food is great. I can even live with high prices if the food is great. But combine them all, and Joe's Braintree is not a place I'd come back to. As stated in my earlier post, Joe's used to have one of the best burgers & fries around. I wish/hope you can get back there.
(2)Erwin F.
I'll be honest here, I really only go to Joe's when the line and waiting time for Cheesecake Factory is the length of the first showing of Avatar. Nothing against Joe's, but that's just how it is. Because my GF and I didn't get our first pick restaurant I decided to just keep the meal to a minimum. I got some chili and a California Cobb salad. The salad was about average and I won't really bore you with the details. BUT...that chili was Tony the Tiger "GRRRRRREAT!" [Yeah that was corny, but indulge me just this one time]. It was a pleasant surprise to actually taste good pieces of ground beef, solid pieces of peppers, and the damned thing actually came out spicy for once (not commenting about Joe's, but in general). The restaurant actually uses real cheddar cheese instead of Parmesan or other mediocre cheeses. In regards to everything else, it was all good. The server was a little lacking on being attentive in stopping by to see how things were and refilling water glasses. I don't know if he took us lightly because we basically ordered apps or that he was busy elsewhere, but he could have made his presence known more. Setting - I've probably been to Joe's a handful of times, but I always forget how nice the inside can be. For you guys out there looking to take your girl out to a nice place, don't dismiss this place so quickly. The servers look respectable and legit, the tables and dining area are LEVELS above Applebee's and TGIFridays. I've been here before and I can see myself going back again, maybe just maybe even if Cheesecake isn't a crazy long wait either.
(4)Mark W.
Well, I haven't written a review in a while but my lunch time experience here yesterday warrants one. I will preface this by saying that I have been to this location a few times before and never had a problem so I can't really understand what happened yesterday. I met mother for lunch and instead of going to the cheesecake factory we decided on Joe's. We walked in and were seated immediately. My mother who has diabetes started feeling light headed so when our waiter came over we mentioned that to him and requested bread asap. He returned with water but no bread so I mentioned it again which maybe upset him because from there on out the experience was awful. He took our order and then disappeared. About 15-20 minutes go by and no sign of our server or food, mind you I ordered the chicken club and my mother order turkey burger and the place was pretty empty. So eventually our server brings out the food and when my mother asked what the delay was he told that her he had been waiting on the fries to finish, they were cold. At this point the manager came over unprompted and inquired how our meal was going, I told her it was fine but she asked again so I explained to her about the poor service. I want to say that the manager was very professional and apologetic. I eat out at least once a week and I never complain about service and had she not come over I would have never requested to speak to the manager, I would have just eaten my meal, paid the bill and left disappointed. The manager offered to comp our food so we finish our meal and I wanted to make sure that the entire bill was going to be covered. I had a beer and a mixed drink and wasn't sure if it was also being comped. After the manager came over and spoke to us we never saw our original server again so my mother flagged down a different server as he walked by and this seemed to upset him so under his breath he mumbled "Do I look like your fucking waiter?". I was pretty shocked and asked him to repeat himself but of course he played dumb and acted like he never said anything. This time I did request to speak to the manager and explained to her what just happened. Once again she was very apologetic and offered to have us back for dinner. I accepted her offer because I didn't want to be rude but I will never eat here again and more than likely won't be going to any other location. TL;DR Had extremely poor,unprofessional service. The manager was extremely apologetic and very professional. I will never go back to this location or any other for that matter ever again.
(1)Matthew H.
I have mixed feelings about Joe's. I like that when I go to the mall and there's a 90 minute wait at the Cheesecake factory there's usually no wait at all for Joe's. I like the fact that they have some of the tastiest bread & butter I've ever had. What I don't like is that the menu absolutely never changes at all. I also dislike that everytime I ask for something medium rare (like my Black & Blue Burger last night) they always bring it medium well or well. It always seems to take much longer than it should for a burger that temperature (usually at lunch) and I never have the heart to send it back, even though they ask me to check it right then. The only thing I've ever had that was truly amazing (and I've been probably 15 times) is the Black & Blue Burger - one of the best I've ever had anywhere. Everything else is solid, but not really impressive in any way. A good lunch spot, but I certainly wouldn't bring a date here.
(3)Tim S.
I have always had good food and drink at Joe's and used to enjoy eating at the bar. The lighting used to be low and cozy. Now there are spotlights on your head and it's too bright. I asked the bartender to dim the light but said she couldn't. No other explanation. I won't be back until the lighting is better. Such a shame because I have been coming to Charlie's/Joe's since the 1980's
(3)Erin M.
The staff at Joe's is perfectly adequate, helpful, and kind. The waitress I had recently at lunch here was a bit eager to get me to stay my order, so much so, that once I sat down she was ready. Two minutes later, she still was ready...five...ok, I am not ready. My menu was still open. I was reading it. Does this not indicate that I am NOT READY. "Miss, are you ready?" NO. NO. NO. If I am talking to my friend about what I want, that also means I am not ready. Please relax. Attentive service is better than no service though, right? Right. Aside from fantastic company and the over-attentive waitress, Joe's was utterly average and not good. The chicken club was on the small side and cut into quarters. Small sandwich cut into small pieces? Completely difficult to manage, especially with the white ends of iceburg lettuce thrown in. Although my love affair with lettuce is new and still developing, I know a crappy piece of lettuce when I see one...or many. The chicken club is also a double decker sandwich, with a completely unnecessary piece of extra bread wedged in, making the lettuce removing process even that much more difficult. Ugh. The menu does not mention the additional carb-loading so not once did I have the opportunity for Joe's to save that extra piece of bread for someone else. Prices are reasonable, based on reading the menu, as long as the portions are a touch larger. The fries are delicious, I will give Joe's that. Even with courteous staff and the great fries, I am really not compelled to go back. And why seat people in the back of the restaurant when it's a sunny day and plenty of window seating? Let the world know people are eating here!
(2)Spottenheim C.
I have been to Joe's in past and found it lackluster. However, with the new management, this is not the Joe's of the past. Both the food and service stepped up considerably, especially for casual dinning. Most recently, they have updated their menu to be trimmer and leaner, which has resulted in better food quality. I do request that Joe's please bring back the pan seared mussels, which was delicious. The manager and waitstaff are food allergy trained and with a made to order open kitchen, they should be able to accommodate most requests. I recently had the meatloaf and the pork loin, both of which are excellent. They can grill , as opposed to fry, chicken wings which is a nice alternative to those seeking to reduce their fried food intake. The clam chowder recipe has not changed and if you have not done so, try it with some hot sauce. The peasant bread remains the same and is quite good that you may be tempted to fill up on bread before getting to your meal. Weekend brunch includes one free drink and the location is convenient if you are doing some early mall shopping. There is a preferred guest reward program for $20 and I would only recommend if you intend to eat here and other Tavistock Restaurants. My only criticism is the steak quality could be better, because I found it tougher than I expected. Otherwise, I would recommend you give Joe's a try for casual dining if you have not been there in a while.
(5)Jason G.
Been to this place a few times, they always have good food, and good-great service. The prime rib is always good, be wary of the larger cut...double the size, but only $5 bucks more? Comes on the bone, so there's most of your weight. The spinach artichoke dip is fresh and it comes with vegetables to dip, which tastes better and is a little healthier. I'd check it out one time, and think of it when the Cheesecake Factory line is overwhelming.
(4)Sarah D.
Actually pretty nice inside considering its mall location. Dark wood and stuff. It almost seems a little fancy. That psuedo-fancy calm demeanor and the lack of decent tv's makes this a place to eat and leave immediately. It doesn't doesn't invite hanging out for any length of time. The burger here is really good. They serve it on a serious roll, the burger is really beefy and juicy, and they use great sharp cheddar. The steaks are decent considering the low price-point. They won't blow your mind but they've got some flavor to them. And they make a decent bar-pie style pizza. The rest of the food is pretty bad. Most of what they serve is really heavy and not very tasty. They pour a very stingy glass of wine. I know you don't fill a wine glass all the way and all that mumbo jumbo, but this wine is pretty lowbrow and the restaurant is a chain, so for the price, i expect at least a bit more of a pour. They have only the most standard of beers, i think Sam seasonal is as exotic as they get. They do sell IBC rootbeer in a glass bottle; vastly overpriced, but nice anyway. I've never ordered a cocktail bit i've looked at the list and it seems insanely priced. $12 martinis at Joe's in the mall? No dice. Good burgers. The end!
(3)Beck N.
Went here again last Saturday evening & was immediately seated (while Cheesecake had a 45 min wait). I had the angel hair primavera with chicken which was absolutely delicious! It was light & the chicken was cooked perfectly. We also ordered some of the fun frozen drinks - chocolate peanut butter frappe & the almond joy. Quite unique, a bit pricey, but a nice indulgence at the end of a tasty meal.
(4)Ann L.
Joe's seems to get the Cheesecake factory left overs who don't want the wait. Seated quickly and the service was swift. The ribs were pretty good but very few fries, which were soggy anyway. Lobster roll special was disappointing. Roll was greasy and even fewer soggy fries. Probably a blessing. Try elswhere. Prices not great .
(2)christine c.
Consistent but not over-the-top good. The dinner prices are a little steep, but you can get a good sandwich or a great burger here for under $15. The service is totally hit or miss but management and the host staff is always friendly. It can be busy during crazy shopping holiday weekends or weird mall hours.
(3)Nicole M.
Spectacular nachos. My husband was impressed with the butter, but he said its because he doesn't get real butter at home. Lol
(4)Keith M.
Cobb salad for lunch. You can say that Joe's is Joe's is Joe's - same at every location. Decent food and good service. Reliable.
(3)Kelly C.
Food is good. Waitstaff is friendly and there is never a wait unlike the cheesecake factory next door. Had the lobster mac and cheese last time and it was delicious. About $20.00 which is expensive but a nice splurge now and again. Bread is delicious but they seem to be getting a little cheep with it.
(3)Kay W.
Love this restaurant. There's never that much of a wait even on weekends. My favorites are the pink sangria and the blackened chicken pasta. I've never had a problem at this restaurant nor at the other joe's in Boston or Hanover.
(5)Patrick L.
My family and I have literally eaten at Joes over 100 times in the past 12 years. It is a huge step above any franchised eatery yet just below fine dining. The food is ALWAYS the same everytime we go. I can remember 1 or 2 bad waiters over the years. The rest have al been Superb. Guaranteed Great meal and terrific staff. Love the Clam Chowder Bread bowl and the Chicken Club for lunch. managers are always courteous and check to see how happy you are. Braintree's location blows away Dedham & Norwell. The other two are mediocre at best.
(4)Veronica A.
I read on Phantom Gourmet that when going to any chain restaurant stick to the appetizers. I think this statement applies to Joe's. We started with the calamari. I know, it's basic and boring, but it was also delicious. The service was great. But after the bread got to the table, everything was downhill after there. My mushroom burger and fries were flavorless and just plain-old not good. My husband had the French Dip. He liked it until his stomach started giving him trouble about an hour later and heartburn kicked in two hours after that. Overall, not worth a drive, but if everything else is closed and you must eat here, stick to the appetizers.
(2)Mark L.
Was not that great, service was horrible my family and I had a stack of plates sitting on the table for 3/4 of the meal and the server never attempted to take them out of the way. The food however was very good as it always has been.
(3)Dave M.
Stopped here on business trip alone. Nice atmosphere. The chicken dish was ridiculous good. Server seemed a bit new on knowledge but was polite and prompt which is what counts. I'll definitely come back next time in town.
(4)Tony D.
I had a burger with blue cheese & bacon, French fries & onion rings. I know, how on earth do I keep my slender figure eating that stuff, you ask. Well, if you must know, I don't. Had to chuckle at the Cobb salad which is served in a taco shell that looks like the Elephant man's old fedora. Nothing really terrible here, it just doesn't excite me. Am I un-American not to like this place. Added a star for the outdoor patio which is conducive to drinking copious amounts of cold alcoholic beverages.
(3)Stephanie H.
i guess i knew walking in here it wasn't going to be that great, but they tricked us for awhile there. i came here after going to the hopper exhibit at the mfa with my mother, two of her best friends, and three angsty teenagers. i live on the south shore and couldn't take driving in the city with my mother another second and with picky kids i knew we'd end up at a chain, so we headed out here. we actually were going to go to the cheesecake factory next door but they told us the wait was nearly three hours - what?! we suburbians sure do love our cheesecake factory. *eye roll* anyway, we went here instead because it was either this or the mall food court. i was surprised when i walked in, it actually looks really nice inside - compared with the name and the logo i was expecting an applebee's or something. we were seated right away and our waiter was very nice. my mother and her friend wanted to know what all this was about a "mojito" these days so i ordered one. it tasted good but i'm certain there was absolutely no alcohol in it. for double digit prices i was really annoyed. actually, i think i was paying for a mint plant, because i'm sure they stuffed the entire thing into my glass. it was hard to take a sip without the straw clogging with leaves and forget not using a straw...gross. anyway, the appetizers came out lightening fast and were pretty good. onion rings and bruschetta. but that's where the lovely service ended. we waited for our dinner. and waited. and waited. other tables sat down and were served and finished eating during this time. the waiter was obviously avoiding us. this is one of my huge pet peeves - i really don't care if it's not your fault, maybe something went wrong in the kitchen, i don't know, but we still would have tipped you well IF you just came over and apologized and let us know what the hell was going on. instead you hid in a corner with your thumb up your ass and refused to make eye contact with any of us. finally i stared at you so long you ran into the kitchen instead. the manager came over with him and apologized for the wait, but didn't say our food would be out soon and didn't offer to make up for it in any way. eventually one sad plate of salmon came out - it looked like a tv dinner. no seasoning, no grill marks, nothing, plain rice, and mushy steamed vegetables. charming. the angsty teenagers ordered the make your own fajitas, and they brought out just the tortillas and then left us waiting at least another ten or fifteen minutes before the filling came out, meaning the shells were now cold. our waiter also had an issue with the sizzling platters they were served on, as he brought them out still smoking and couldn't get them to stop. he started fanning at it wildly, pushing all the smoke right into the people at the table behind us. they did NOT look amused. i, however, burst into a fit of giggles. i ordered a salad which came out last [what?], was missing ingredients, and was served on a HUGE [like, i couldn't see anyone on the other side of my plate, venus on the half shell type] tortilla shell which was soggy from sitting around so long i guess. we couldn't wait to get out of here, and i won't be back.
(2)deaner b.
My dh and I stopped in here for lunch today, after a quick trip to the Apple store to retrieve my dh's cell phone he left there the night before. We found a small table in the bar and the bartender "Marco" was very friendly yet professional and quite prompt. The entire staff seemed to work together very well and the guy who served our food was obviously there to do a good job - I was impressed. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Salad with wild greens - which is almost the perfect salad in my mind. Besides the obvious, it had feta cheese, cranberries & walnuts(chopped- yay!). Everything was great. My dh had a cheeseburger with onion rings and fries... he wasn't as pleased- he ordered the burger medium rare and it came well done, and his hamburger pet peeve.....it was the shape of a baseball not a patty. It wasn't terrible but his comment was - 'if you're gonna ask me how I want my burger-at least attempt to make it that way" He enjoyed the onion rings and fries. And the beer was super cold which is always a good thing. We will go back if we ever have a reason to be in Braintree. Almost forgot - the bread before the meal was superb - warm with butter and a crispy crust. Yum!
(3)Matt L.
Having been to a few of these mediocre spots, I figured why battle the crowds at Cheesecake Factory to grab a quick lunch and go here. Most of the other locations are terrible with bad staff and bad food. I have to say this location was very quick on it's feet, pleasant, helpful and just all around not too bad. The food is the same although lunch was not as bad as the dinners I have gotten served here. The salads were inventive and the food was tasty and pleased at the same time. Although I still think of this as an upscale Applebee's, this location was okay.
(3)Tan E.
wait wasn't too long waiter slow in ordering, took long time to get drinks food took forever for just a steak and crabcake salad. and it wasn't even that busy. bread didnt come till during the meal, should have came out before our entrees came out. food was Okay, just that the whole experience was below the below average. soda was flatter than a 5 yr boy. check process took forever as well.
(2)Chris M.
I have to give them five stars for the blackened chicken pasta, one of the most complex dishes I've ever eaten. The escarole, when eaten with the chicken, adds a depth of flavor to the dish. All the parmesan was a little distracting though. I would have liked more red bell pepper. Although the escarole goes with the chicken it doesn't seem to go with the pasta. Maybe some chicken/escarole meatballs might be a good idea.
(5)Krystle L.
Joe's offers a great menu and carries my favorite wine offered by the glass, so I did give the establishment 3 stars. The last couple visits to Joe's were not exactly what I would have preferred, but management took care of my concerns so I was happy with the service. The quality of food is excellent, but not consistent. Usually, lunch is the best option since service and quality are more likely to be better than the busier dinner hours.
(3)ally o.
really, awesome service. i was here catching up with my friends and we got kind of carried away talking rather than eating our food. basic american food but tasted better than your average TGIFridays, Cheesecake Factory, etc. didn't catch our waitress' name but she was pretty patient and was on point with all our endless orders of food.
(4)Karen S.
I generally like Joe's selection of food. However I had the mac & cheese last weekend and it was bland, bland, bland. The creaminess was great but it lacked any flavor.
(2)Mike L.
Visited Joe's for father's day. I hadn't been to a Joe's in a few years. Maybe I'm wrong but it felt like the food quality has falllen off somewhat. Everything still tasted ok, I just remember it being better. My big complaint was with the service. Our appentizers and bread were served without plates, not a big deal. However, our entrees were served at different times, one was so late getting to the table we had to flag down the waitress and remind her we were still waiting.
(3)Davina C.
I don't know why I bother really. It's a chain. Joe's is FINE. It's not amazing. It's not perfect chain food. It's no Cheesecake.... but it's fine. The last time I went I was hungry, in a rush, and needing some good old chain food to keep my shopping energy up. I ordered the chicken parm sandwich and, well, it sucked. I must have woke up under a strange star that day as I didn't say anything like I normally do. At the end of the meal the waitress asked it I would like it boxed. "No, it really wasn't that good", I replied. To which she said sorry and gave us the bill. To be fair, she did offer us some desert-- whether or not that was a freebie I have no idea as she didn't specify. I said no and we paid the bill and went on our merry way. I looked longingly at the Cheesecake Factory right next door and thought, "next time I am hankering for chain food I'll wait the extra 25 minutes."
(2)Tammi M.
Went with our usual party of five for our monthly dinner out. Everything seemed ok at first. Service was fast and attentive. Everyone ordered something different. Food looked good, tasted fine. We left, going to do some shopping in the mall. About an hour after eating, we all felt really sick. Definitely made us cross Joe's off our list of places to revisit.
(2)wsl l.
I came in here the other day for lunch. I must have caved b/c it was either food courts or this joint. I dont know how I end up in chain restaurats.. I always.. always..get disappointed. Well given the lunch time, the place was pretty buzzin and we were seated fairly quickly. Our party of 7 was seated at an uncomfortably small round table where the chairs were higher than the table itself?? The AC was on full blast and it was freezing.. goose bumps freezing. We ordered apps.. calamari and buffalo chicken tenders. I ordered the sliced sirloin w/rice pilaf. The sirloin was soooo bland, I had to add on endless salt and pepper for some flavor. The rice pilaf was not fully cooked and was served luke warm..?? I couldn't even finish my food b/c it was soo disgusting and i ended up ordering a coffee to offset my freezing ass.
(1)Melody V.
I absolutely love Joe's American Bar & Grill. The staff is always friendly and professional. I always start off with an order of Crispy Calamari-- it's one of the best I've ever had! Joe's Original Burger is not only real good, but it's huge and made with fresh (not frozen) beef with a few choices of cheese. I love that I have options to what cheese I want on my burger. Once the burger arrives, they always ask me to cut into the burger to make sure it's made to my liking (medium). They have a lot of great condiments to go along with my burger. The soups and salads are delicious. I'm always satisfied with service and food here, as it is extremely consistent with every visit I have.
(4)Alexandra M.
Strong drinks, good food, staff....complained about working a double and how is that my problem? Don't complain to us about it. I had the Caribbean rum runner to drink (staff 'corrected' the way I said Caribbean) which was really good and strong (all the ingredients are rum, so I'm not surprised. If you get the nachos, know you need 4 people to eat them. Really good with not too much extra stuff that other places sometimes put on nachos. Great cheese too.
(3)Joie S.
I had a great dinner here this weekend. I was with one of my friends and her four year old niece. The food was great, but the five star review is mostly based on the service. We had such a great server, she was one of the best I have had in a really long time. She was really helpful with the menu, and so attentive. She brought drinks before ours were empty, she noticed that my friend needed more ice for her tea without her having to ask, and she made us feel like we were her only customers even though the place was packed. I'm really not usually a fan of chain restaurants, but this is one of the ones that I will visit again and again!!
(5)Mandee F.
We had a spontaneous visit here on our way home from work and it was a fantastic first experience. Our waitress (Denise C) was on point with checking in on us often and we never had to look around to try to find her when we needed something. The apps came out quickly and the food followed maybe only 10 minutes after. Overall we had all of our food within about 20 minutes after ordering which was great, and we loved the food! Definitely a great choice for lunch or dinner and we'll probably visit again in the future.
(5)Catherine G.
Busy weekend filled with chores then the dreaded what's for Sunday dinner question. Found the perfect answer right around the corner....Joe's American Bar and Grill. Started off with drinks a great mix with fresh squeezed juices and yummy rum. Then their made from scratch ginger ale - Delicious! Great Appetizers and dinner. The service was attentive and disarmingly charming. New menu with too many excellent offerings. The manager, Sean, dropped by to make sure we were happy, very impressive. He's got a great team which Made the entire evening relaxing, fun, and filling! Good job, well done. Can't wait to come again.
(5)Elly W.
Didn't get waited on at Rodizio so we left and went here. We got seated and within two seconds was greeted by a waiter. He took our drink orders and was back in five minutes. He Then took our appetizer order. Then give minutes our entree. We ordered the crab cake, very good but had to share since it was only one. Plenty of meat in the cake. I had the scallop Risotto as my entree. The scallops were fresh but the Risotto some didn't seem cooked. My friend got the jumbalaya with shrimp and sausage. It was OK, only had one bite. Overall the staff were attentive and atmosphere was good.
(4)Jonathan N.
I love their steak here. The menu is alittle bit pricey. Services is ok. The foods are descent depend on what you order. I think the restaurant could add alittle more light inside. I felt so doom and depress having dinner in the dark.
(4)Geoffrey T.
Mediocre food, menu has changed a lot since I've last been here. No longer is the blackened chicken pasta on the menu. Had burger with sweet potato fries, burger was just okay, fries were undercooked, kids pasta meal came with overcooked pasta. Service was decent, although I was never offered sugar for my ice tea. Left hungry and disappointed. Will not visit again with Cheesecake Factory across the hall, nor wood I recommend to anyone until they make some big changes to make it like it once was.
(2)Angelina W.
Nice environment, excellent customer service, great food. I love this place!!!
(4)Anna Q.
This place has been opened for as long as I could remember probably since I was born and I just recently came. It is a huge restaurant in ssp not much people on a Monday night. The only problem was the food took a long time to come out other than that I would give this place a 4 star. I didn't get a picture of my fish sandwich, but it was a large portion for $12 and comes with a side dish totally worth it! If you like that fish sandwich from McDonald's this is 10x better lol - fish sandwich comes with pickles tomatoes lettuce and onions on the side if you want to put it in your sandwich and tartar sauce! There is also free wifi from the mall.
(4)Beth R.
I can never get enough of that Joe's American B&G warmed bread & butter! Actually, my friends and I use-to fight over it when we were in high school. The clam chowder is delicious too, along with the salads & sandwiches. Waitstaff is usually good, although my company & I have been looked after by a couple of lackadaisical servers from time to time. Lastly, word to the wise: Go to the bathroom before you leave the house and try not to use theirs, which is located at the back of the restaurant, to the right of the kitchen and down a flight of stairs. It's 10 degrees warmer down there and it smells like a cesspool...brutal.
(3)Tamara M.
We usually avoid chains, but being without wheels narrowed our options, and we decided to give Joe's a try at the recommendation of our hotel's shuttle driver. Our server was wonderful, super friendly and with a great attitude. We had a couple of beers before our meal, which arrived promptly. The house-made chili was a generous portion, with a good flavor. It was served in a large, dense bread bowl, and made a comforting meal for a cool, rainy day.
(3)Sarah M.
This was my first time at Joe's--and I was ready to find another fun restaurant/bar to hang out at. The ambiance was dim and masculine. The wait staff were friendly and the menu was fairly typical with most dishes priced between $10-upper 20s. I ordered the clam chowder in the bread bowl. The first couple bites were pretty good but it tasted too much like what you'd buy in a can and the bread wasn't any better itself. The meal left me with a weird after taste and a resolve not to dine at Joe's again.
(1)Billy L.
Been to Joe's in Peabody several times and based upon my good experiences at that location we decided to hit the one in Braintree for brunch today...BAD IDEA. They completely messed up the GF's omelette and then after being informed they didn't even remove it from the bill. I had the eggs benedict over filet and although the eggs were cooked perfectly the filet was horrible. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is for the fresh squeezed OJ and really good cappucinos. Service was lacking and I feel he took forever to come by. I never knew Joe's did breakfast on Sunday and now I know why.
(2)Jeffrey L.
Great food at this branch, the chili is the best item on their menu but don't set expectations too high, it's a chain tavern after all still great though!
(5)Jim D.
I sat at the bar with a friend today and had an $11 burger and a few draft beers. The food, service and atmosphere were pretty good. I hadn't had a burger out in a while, and this one hit the spot.. I liked that that they sneaked a few o-rings in with my fries. I also tried a little ahi tuna appetizer that my friend was having. It's not my thing, but he liked it a lot. One of he bartenders was friendly, but but the other one seemed like she didn't want to be there.
(3)Art F.
Leaving Boston at 3:30 pm on a Friday in July, we arrived at Joe's tired and frustrated with traffic about 90 minutes later. We quickly relaxed (even without alcohol) in the casual ambiance and with the help of friendly and accommodating staff. No waiting really helped! Our party of two enjoyed two specials, a mussel and swordfish piccata over angel hair and crab stuffed flounder, done very well for a chain restaurant. We left relaxed and reinvigorated to continue our trip south in much lighter traffic.
(4)Ivan H.
This place is great. Besides having the best bread and French fries, the service is impeccable. The manager, Dana is the best. The place is leaps and bounds above any chain restaurant you would normally find in a mall.
(5)C B.
Came here for dinner. The waitress was at best mediocre. It took forever for our drinks, and I mean forever! We waited over an hour for our food which was served cold and had to be sent back. When visiting the rest room there was vomit on the floor and then proceeded to get served a beer with a fly in it. The waitress had to be reminded numerous times to bring an ice water, and that's when we could find her. I will say the manager was professional and rectified the issue of cold food quickly. Sadly this used to be one of my favorites, I won't be back.
(1)Renuka V.
6 of us went there for lunch on a Fri at 1:30pm and the place was almost empty which felt emptier since tis huge inside! Had the crabcakes for main which was ok and had their house salad which was surprisingly good. For dessert, we shared the cherry pie which was simply delicious and deserves a whole extra star by itself.
(4)