Went here recently for a business lunch. Service was really attentive- almost too much so. Had iced tea- very good! Started with soups - both were fine. Not remarkable, but decent. Both had salads. I had the house Caesar with steak. The steak was a flank cut. Very small portion maybe 2 oz at the most. Over cooked and not at all flavorful. Nice space & atmosphere. Was super busy on a Wednesday at 12:30 but when we left an hour later is was really quiet. So big lunch place.
(3)
Andrew P.
Look, I probably would not have chosen this place but it was a convenient meeting place at the time. Woops. What a mistake, this was literally my worst dining experience in ages. I had been here about six months ago, sat in the bar and had an ok to slightly above ok experience. Last night, this couldn't have been further from the case. The waitress was clearly new, but like way too new to be on her own. The service was INCREDIBLY slow. Like next level I would rather just drink water from the hose outside slow. It took 15 mins to get drinks, the table next to me was sat and then left before the server got there. The next table that sat complained and had managers deliver their food for the rest of the night and the table to my left complained with us about how bad the service was. You would think that if a table was complaining about service, the management might take a look at the other tables that the server is covering. The food was just ok. For a $16 burger, there are plenty of other places I would rather go but honestly I am sure that the bad taste was much more reflective of the service. I have no problem having a one star experience when I walk into a chain, I half expect it. At a place like this you shouldn't have that happen. I do not recommend for anyone, won't be recommending to anyone and definitely will not be going back. Good luck if you are still considering.
(1)
Lizzie B.
It was fine, I guess. There is something inherently depressing about spending Thanksgiving at a chain restaurant, but alas, this is what my Grandmother wanted. We had a 12 p.m. reservation for 11 people. We were seated promptly, and were the only people in the entire restaurant for at least an hour. They had at least 15 servers on staff, yet somehow two people had to ask for silverware, and I waited over 20 minutes for my first glass of wine. Staff were nice - just seemed like they were a bit out to lunch. I can't really blame them - I wouldn't be chomping at the bit to work on a major holiday either. Food was passable. For $25 you get all you can eat turkey dinner which includes - white turkey breast (no skin), mashed potatoes, squash, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy. You could also order the scallop risotto ($25) which was not all you can eat. I ordered the latter and was pretty satisfied. The risotto was creamy and included a lot of veggies - carrots, spinach, some other greens - and unfortunately, what appeared to be canned mushrooms. It came with 5 scallops - three bigger sized ones, and two tiny ones. I didn't try the turkey dinner but my Uncle Michael said "it tasted like an entire weeks worth of sodium" Most people at the table echoed this sentiment. On the plus side - Joe's sends home with every turkey order - a completely new, whole plate of turkey - free of charge. General Notes: Water glasses were not refilled often enough. Music was weird - top 40 (Fitz and the Tantrums, random hip-hop) AND Micheal Buble? Joe's really needs to settle with a themed play list. None of this music really fit the holiday mood nor the clientele. TIP: When the average age of the patrons is 65 - don't play Britney Spears. Complimentary bread was a bit stale, but I appreciated the soft, whipped butter. Beer was served with chilled mugs - well played! I had to ask for a drink list - that was annoying. Especially with a large party - wanting to get down and be festive - it's in your best interest to push us towards the booze. Most people in my party just randomly shouted out domestic beers, and hoped Joe's had them. My Irish Coffee was weak - not weak in booze, but rather served with weak coffee. I'm also pretty sure they used skim milk rather than cream. We were led to believe Joe's only offered one desert - the pumpkin cheese cake. After half of us already ordered. my Aunt Lynette found out that we could order any desert on the regular menu. Too bad a regular menu was never provided. When prompted - the waitress orally informed us of the other options. Pumpkin cheese cake was amazing! By far the best thing I ate - creamy and light, with homemade whip cream -YUM! I also loved my Aunt Lynette's salted caramel cheese cake. It tasted exactly like Goetz's Caramel creams. Decor was nice. Large, clean bathrooms, nice dark wood paneling dining room.. comfortable chairs. All and all - it was an ok experience, but I'm not rushing to go back. It's nice not to have to deal with cooking and cleaning the house - but the experience just felt stale and anemic. I was also expecting higher quality food and service from a restaurant owned by Atlantic Fish Company and Abe and Louie's. 2.5 stars.
(3)
N F.
They no longer serve prime rib, but there are a few other options.
(3)
doug r.
I chose to sit in the dining room as I wanted something a tad quieter than the noisy bar area. But karma seated a couple with a noisy two year-old behind me. Silly parents thought they could reason with a two year-old. Why did I chose Joe's? It was convenient (behind) my hotel and they offer a 10% discount to hotel guests. I was not in the mood to engage Woburn's traffic. I arrived ~6:20PM and was seated immediately. Bar area was quite busy/noisy. Dining room, not so much. Sabrina was my server. Attentive, hustles, knows the menu, hustles ... and got everything right the first time. She should be working somewhere more upscale - bigger checks should equal bigger tips. I opt'd for their $25 prix fixe menu. The three shrimp appetizer, seafood stew entree (mussels, salmon & a very petite lobster tail in an unremarkable sauce) and a bread pudding w/ice cream dessert. It was satisfactory, but did not delight. Would I order this combo again? No. Will I return? Possibly. After long days, I'm really not in the mood to travel for food. WiFi network is insecure. A business computer/server is on the same subnet that customers access. Baaad juju. One star for the guest-WiFi network. Three stars for the food. Five stars for Sabrina.
(3)
Damien S.
For all the polish and crisp collars on the staff, I'm a bit surprised as to how sloppy the actual food is at this regional chain's locale. My turkey burger ($14) came on a "buttered"-greasy whole wheat bun with what seemed like sliced bleu cheese and a side of bland guac. The sauteed spinach requested in lieu of the standard fries featured limp, ashy leaves swimming in oily base. I can see the inherent appeal to Joe's, especially if you're a road warrior salesfolk who wants to close your clients over a seemingly high-end lunch. Bring the heavy pen, order the seared ahi tuna salad and bask in commissions and bottomless iced teas. But for a pair of hangry kids who just wanted a solid burger, Joe's limped to the rescue. I'm in no rush to head back.
(2)
Greg L.
Went here with some vendors for dinner one evening and enjoyed some delicious Nachos for an appetizer and went with their meatloaf for dinner, which was a recommendation from a coworker. The nachos were really good and quite large and was easily shareable between the 5 of us in our party. You also get complimentary bread, which was good. I couldn't believe how large my meatloaf dinner plate was. I basically got two large pieces of meatloaf over mashed potatoes and braised red cabbage on the side. A delicious meal, but way too much for me to eat! All in all, a good place to go with fast and friendly service. Would definitely come back here again next time I'm in the area.
(3)
Mark R.
I know better than to trust this restaurant chain for providing the same meal described on the menu to me. Today I ordered a Kale and Quinoa Salad. What I got was 25% Kale and 75% iceberg lettuce, a teaspoon of quinoa, and a pinch of sliced almonds. Give me a break! A $5 salad for $19 and that does include the meals tax and a 20% gratuity. Folks stay away from this place. The Kale and Quinoa Salad at the Cheesecake Factory in Burlington is fantastic.
(1)
Lisa P.
I was very disappointed when we arrived here and we're waiting quite some time for drinks and our orders to be taken. There were hitches here and there / apparently they are under new management and "lots is changing" Apparently changes not for the better - have you ever heard of a place that doesn't have house wines? Absurd! One of us had to order a $10 glass of wine not even filled to the correct level / more like "wine tasting" Their food supposedly has had a huge change since the new management - there were unpleasant sauces for my meal (much to be desired with their ranch) It was awful! On top of all of this, there was a child screaming her head of for a good portion of dinner. This was disrupting the entire dining area, it would have been nice if they would suggested a parent take her out of the room. And when we asked a staff about birthdays (because we'd taken two people out for their birthday) they replied with "we don't do that here" Needless to say, I really don't ever want to return here or any Joes.
(1)
Nikki B.
Really love their new menu. You must try the Cajun Maple Bacon!!Service was quick and friendly. One thing that's really important to me is a clean bathroom, and they had a clean one. I had the brunch eggs Benedict with crab cakes and hollandaise sauce. Excellent!
(4)
Josh F.
The bartenders here are all exquisite, and the selection in beers doesn't hurt. They recently revamped the menu and damn. A meatloaf that is made with rib meat??? Yeah, I'll get that every time.
(5)
N F.
I travel to Woburn 4x a year and eat at this restaurant three or more times (lunches/dinners) during my trips. That is 12 or so times a year -- more than I eat at certain restaurants at my own home city. My favorite meal is, well, was, the seared Ahi Tuna salad. Tonight, after flying in from southern California, I stopped before even heading to my hotel,to pick up my favorite meal. But I was informed that the menu had been changed almost 2 weeks ago, and my salad was no longer on the menu. At 9:30 at night, I didn't have a lot of other options. The staff dutifully told me what a great "new" chicken salad is now on the menu, but I can get a perfectly acceptable chicken salad at -- oh -- at least four local restaurants come to mind. Instead I opted to get a dinner salad and tuna tartare. What a colossal disappointment. The dinner salad was unspectacular unless you count the overuse of sliced onions; and the dressing was absolutely tasteless. On top of that, not wanting to drown my entire salad in salt with the include soy sauce, I simply mixed the tartare into the dinner salad. The raw tuna and avocado must have been completely unseasoned; as the result was that the whole meal had NO flavor whatsoever. Guess I've had my last meal at American Joe's. Fortunately, there are a Not Your Average Joe's, Cheesecake Factory, Season's 52 and Paparazzi all very close by with excellent food. Best of luck to you with the new menu.
(1)
Krista C.
Their burgers were delicious! Fries were good as well. I was impressed they had 60 minute on tap too. Very friendly staff as well. I would recommend this place over the other nearby chain restaurants.
(4)
Rachel L.
They have recently changed their menu and went way up on their prices. Service is either hit or miss here. I used to do takeout a lot but after paying for overpriced salads that had brown wilted lettuce and my order being wrong numerous times, I stopped going. I decided today to try it since it's been a while. The sandwich I always used to order was $11 is now $15, how do you charge $4 more for a chicken sandwich? It's not a chicken club anymore, it's a small piece of grilled chicken on ciabata bread and fries. I'm far from cheap and have no problem paying for food that tastes good but this was not worth the money. Chicken was dry and slathered in some kind of flavored mayo. I won't be back anytime soon, not worth the cost.
(2)
Fred S.
A bit overpriced but fantastic service and food. I'm a big fan of Crabcakes and wow! are they great. Very convenient location and lots of parking. A must-stop if you're in the area of the 93/95 intersection.
(4)
Jeremiah D.
This place has an entrance that is more impressive than the food. The ambiance is that of almost high end. The food did not match. My friend ordered a steak and loaded potatoes. The steak he loved, but not for the $26 it cost. The loaded potatoes were not good he said. I had the sword fish special, as did my other friend. We did not like it at all. It lacked flavor. A piece of fish with melted butter...really? The claim chowder was actually very good. If I ever go back, it would be just for the chowder.
(3)
TinoX T.
I'm a Fan for this Place and specially the one in NewBury St NIce Food,Clean
(4)
Wm H.
Food was good, seems like a place the business men go for lunch. Hidden behind a hotel. I would return.
(4)
Alex M.
It was alright but nothing special. I split the nachos and they were pretty good. I tried the Mac n cheese and opt'd to add lobster. The lobster added nothing to the dish so save your money. The service was what killed it for me though. Nice enough waitresses, but very apathetic. I doubt I'll be back.
(3)
Elle G.
Had an unpleasant experience here last evening. Although the waiter was attentive with refills on our sodas, the food was terrible. We ordered the crab cakes appetizer and there was only one small crab cake. Since we were a couple, maybe the waiter could've indicated that there was only one when we were ordering. For main course we had the scallops risotto and the lobster mac n cheese. The scallops had a very odd flavor that I couldn't identify so I had my date try and he said the same thing. It was almost like a chemical flavor. The lobster mac n cheese was just ok. I am in no way a picky eater, I will eat almost anything. Very disappointed.
(1)
Julie P.
The service, atmosphere, wine list (albeit a little over-priced) and are excellent! We made a reservation through Open Table and were sat right away even though there was a waiting line. If you are going to get the kale salad, make sure the waiter gives you the dressing it's meant to be served with, otherwise you end up with basically raisins and raw kale (apparently the dressing softens the kale to make it more tasty). I recommend Joes!
(4)
Mahmoud E.
A company I was doing business with took me here for lunch. Nice atmosphere, abundant parking!! They serve complimentary bread which is just amazing! The best bread I ever had, I ordered a cup of clam chowder which was ok, not great, which means it's bad for Boston. Ordered the swordfish tips which was the special of the day, the swordfish was ok. Nothing special, my first time having swordfish so I found it to be slightly dry, a little too fishy, but in no way was it terrible just not preferred fish. The side rice and asparagus was perfect, the grilled lemon was a great accompaniment. Service was quick and attentive. Not a bad option for Woburn.
(3)
Ken C.
I was staying a hotel in the area for business and I decided to take a walk over to Joe's rather then eat at the place right next door (Bad Yelp reviews on the food) The service here was fantastic. It may have been the best service I have ever gotten sitting at bar (with the exception of being a regular of course). The bartender Michael quickly introduced himself and his co-bartender Jessica. he brought me a beer and took my appetizer order immediately. The two of them worked together to make sure my drink was always full and my empty plates were removed right away. They were also very friendly and always called me by name which is always nice. OK, so onto the food. I started off with the New England clam chowder which was very good. They offered me cracked pepper to top it off which was a very nice touch. I had a caesar salad after and the salmon for the main course. My fear of ordering salmon in bars is that it will be overcooked, but not here. It was grilled perfectly. It could have been seasoned a little better, but nothing that a little lemon could not fix. I would much rather it be a little bland then dried out anyway. The spinach that it was cooked over was also very nice complement. All in all, I was very impressed with Joe's and I would definitely go back if I am in the area. The food was more gastro-pub then typical bar food and the service really impressed me. Cheers.
(4)
Rachel E.
Just went here last week with my mum. Food is great. Service was good but our server was a bit over enthusiastic. He came by too often, interrupting our dinner. Beyond that it was a great time. My mom got the haddock special and I got the steak tips. Both were cooked well and tasted great.
(4)
Manfred S.
Business lunch standard place. I think I have been here a few dozen times and this is place where I forget to check in with the Yelp App. It is always basic good American food, but it is just basic good American food. There is nothing really exciting to write about this place. I go. I eat. And hopefully someone else is picking up the tab. Safe and boring, but definitely A-OK.
(3)
Paul L.
The food was very good, the waitstaff was efficient. It was a little pricey for a pub, but I would go back.
(4)
Jay C.
I had a great experience the first time I went. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. I specially loved that they served their bread warm. The second time I went the bread wasn't was cold but otherwise it was still a great experience. What I love the most was all of their vegan options. I will definitely return.
(5)
Sandra D.
This place turned into a way, way overpriced mediocre hotel food lobby restaurant. You know, the ones you go to at the hotel to grab a drink.....before or after you go out to eat. This place used to be my go to place for a great burger, great beer and great service. I had moved and hadn't been here in almost a year so when I was back in the area this was the first place I went. I was completely shocked. Instead of walking in and feeling like I was welcomed and the staff happy to see me, it was the feeling of - am I interrupting your day or something! Very non personable people here. I didn't recognize anyone from before. Service was terrible, I originally thought the waitress was in training. She was so bad I'm still not convinced she wasn't. Since the menu has considerably changed (not for the better) I had asked the waitress if she could make a burger similar to a burger that was on the old menu. I received a blank stare followed by 'so you want the (whatever it was called) burger off the menu'? Really!! No, that's not what I asked for but even after trying to explain it to her again, well, guess what I got. The burger itself was not like it use to be. It was drier, very very fast food-like thrown together, just not the same. Everything was so poorly done that I gave up, ate everything with a fork and knife, and asked for the check. Bottom line - the food is definitely not worth the jacked up prices; service is terrible; beer ok (kept it bottled so I wouldn't be further disappointed)... Where did the old management go to so I can go there?
(1)
Micaela I.
My husband and I ordered a spinach and artichoke dip as appetizer and it was delicious. And then we ordered a ribs to share since it was 2 lbs of meat and my husband ordered 2 drinks (once in a blue moon and real mojito) and both were too sweet and had no taste. The ribs were hard and we could barely cut it through. We never had a ribs as bad as that one. The service was ok.
(2)
Alexa-Rae F.
Horrible. A reservation turned into a 10 minute wait... Which turned into an hour wait with no apology/explanation. Vegetable Risotto tasted very sour and meals didn't come as ordered.
(1)
David H.
My colleague and I went for a quick lunch. I had the clam chowder which was excellent. The service was superb. For lunch I had the tuna burger which was really good. Comes with sweet potato fries as well. My colleague had the French Dip. He thought it was good, but felt the beef slices could have been a bit thicker. Would like to come back again for dinner.
(4)
Susan B.
Went here 3/8 for an early dinner on a Sunday...sat in the bar area as it's easier for my 82 yr old mom...my dd and I sat on the window side and nearly FROZE there was a breeze coming in and had to wear our coats...and NO ONE said oh gee are you cold? First off when we went in and said can we sit in the bar, the host said sure, and then wondered off no menus etc..um hello...I think we may need those to order...the waitress was great very very helpful...now onto the menu...mom got the cup of onion soup and it was fab, my burger was great, now onto my big issue...the kids menu...I have a 12 year old and she may want to eat something more than a chicken finger or hot dog...for a good restaurant they offer next to NO decent and healthy menu options for a child (someone under 16) but older than 5! No steak option for kids and the kids burger (the next table had one) looked like the chef stepped out to McD's across the street and brought it back and put it on a plate! Seriously for that kind of $$ I want something DECENT for my child...a veggie, side salad...SOMETHING other than hot dog, burger, chicken finger, fish sandwich...bummer too cause I generally like this place. Survey says...X for kids options...
(3)
Slurms M.
Honestly this is exactly what you expect for the name. It is a bloated American food joint. The food is fine. It lacks character, but generally features fresh ingredients whether or not the actual entree is worthwhile. The atmosphere is filled with business people who think highly of themselves, but aren't too high class. The bar is usually filled with people on their iPhones with their earbuds in. The staff is helpful, but is quick to disengage once another drink is passed up. Too many good places in Woburn proper to waste time on this convenient, but rather melanchology restaurant.
(2)
Chris M.
Mediocre service...a group here staying in the hotel attached to the place were told we could not be served. Unacceptable...plus the fact that they waited until the bill was paid do they could collect the tip.
(1)
Catherine W.
Service was pretty good at the bar; food was average - got tuna tartare, calamari, and a NY strip. Good amount of TVs. Driving here, I felt the sign for the restaurant is a little hard to see in the dark.
(3)
Jane R.
Although some items here are decent, none are great and the service is really sub-par. You really want to avoid their brunch,it is AWFUL. The selection is limited (small menu) and if you don't ask for the items included with your meal they will forget to serve them to you. You know, small things like juice, bread, muffins, home fries ...
(2)
Joanne G.
At one time not so long ago I went vegetarian. It was for a good reason, there was no hate towards meatlovers, just had a personal reason. Well what it's in the past is in the past, and on the way home I felt the NEED for a good steak. When I think of a steak, I think of Joe's. They never disappoint me. The New York strip is a work of art. Perfectly cooked medium with an amazing crisp edge to die for. They have good decent sides, so no disappointment there. Onion soup, wedge salad...so great. It's big enough that you aren't sitting on top of one another and you can almost not heat the sometimes annoying kids. The staff is friendly yet not in your face all the time. I like when they suggest things yet know when to stop talking.
(4)
Keri S.
Just finished up a meal with my family here. The service was good and speedy. We tried all three sangrias...all three were yummy but my favorite was the one with lemon in it. The crusty bread was delicious. All of the food was great. Burgers, crab cakes, wings, nachos, onion soup, and meatloaf are all recommended!
(4)
Joe C.
Good food fast. Great clam chowder and the ahi tuna I ever had very fresh and good prices. The service was good and was very clean.
(4)
Dennis U.
I've dined here several times and have not been disappointed...nor have I been overwhelmed. A B grade steak house with lots of other things on the menu. I had the New York steak with a baked potato and a side salad...adventuresome,eh? It was ok and a lot cheaper than some of the A team joints. Reasonable wine list, come on the weekend for the prime rib.
(3)
Michelle A.
My mom always stays in the hotel connected to JAB&G. She really loves the food there and of course the convenient location. While she was in town I ended up eating there twice. I ordered the same thing. Ribeye with sauteed spinach. Ribeye was cooked medium rare the way I liked it but the spinach was different both times. Both edible but the first night the spinach still had some life in it like if it were in a salad. The second time is was more mushy. Both edible like I said but consistency in a restaurant is key. First night the waiter was great and took care of us without being overbearing. Second night the girl was a little too much for all of our liking. She was nice and polite but came by way too much to check on us. I know customers are all different but she needs to just ease up a bit and relax. Otherwise everything was great. Food is a little pricey. The dark woods and bright lights make it an odd contrast in my opinion but manageable. Front desk staff are always super sweet. Bartenders can go either way for me. I'm not a local so I guess I don't get that treatment. Menu could use an upgrade or some additions. I guess I've been here enough to know the menu by heart.
(3)
Aaron M.
I honestly don't know how to rate this place. The decor is nice. That's about the end of the pleasantries. If you're looking for a place to quickly empty your wallet for mediocre fare than this is the place for you. The amount of food served for the price is rather dismal. Our server was lousy and barely spoke English. Your better off going to Applebee's.
(1)
Megan H.
*This is an edit. Initially, I wrote about Peabody, when I meant for Woburn's location.* Here is my experience: I just returned from a lunch hour. I meeting with my brother for a birthday meal, since it is conveniently located between us. Our server gave us a few minutes to review the menu. She was nice and knowledgeable about the daily specials, which included buffalo wings. My brother was sold, and even wanted two orders for his entree. I just picked the Original Burger. After a long conversation, our waitress asked if we might want some bread as we wait. Not keeping track of exactly what time it was, we noticed that we haven't even gotten our food, yet. I looked at my clock, at it showed 1:29 pm. I know that we sat down at 12:40. So, with 50 minutes of waiting, there was no sign of food. I wanted to give them an extra second worth of waiting, and the food finally appeared behind my brother. At that time, there would be no time to enjoy our food, so we thought to wrap it to go. Time was really ticking to head back to work, and yet... it was taking a very long time to even have that wrapped. I had to jet out of there. Sorry, Joe's American. You didn't deliver your A game at all. To wait nearly an hour during a lunch hour (which should be typical in this area) is just ridiculous. Bring your food out in 12 minutes, tops! No hate on the servers or the back of the house, but you need to fix your problem areas. That includes: -Service -Updating your menu (I've gone back to Joe's American maybe once every 1-5 years since I was 15). The menu has not changed. -You have pretty fancy prices for mediocre meals ...which leads me to, have ordering my medium done burger looked a lot like well-done. I wish I could say one good thing. But, it was just a disappointment altogether.
(1)
Mike K.
The phrase "it's a slippery slope" comes to mind. I just had lunch at Joe's American for the first time in 5 years. My last experience here was great, so I have to wonder what is going on at this location after going here again today. I went with a group of people from my office for a post Christmas lunch. With a group of 8 people we were seated in the bar area when there were clearly tables available in the dining room. I didn't want to come off as obnoxious with my co-workers so remained silent. We had a pretty unattentive server, and our initial contact for a drink order was 15 minutes from start to finish. That is simply too slow for a business lunch. She had zero personality and was simply "going through the motions." One of my colleagues ordered some type of salad and made a simple request for the dressing to be separate. This got missed, so he was forced to wait for a "replacement" salad while the rest of the group started to eat. The server was unapologetic. I had the saddest excuse for a Cobb salad possible. I don't want to get into Food Channel levels of detail, but suffice to say it was just poor in every way. This place is considered by many as a "step up" from Applebees or the 99, but I have to disagree. Ironically, there is a 99 Restaurant almost next door. I will go there next time if given the choice.
(1)
Ralph G.
I Always have a good meal and the staff is always pleasent
(4)
Jeff M.
It's tough to categorize Joe's. It's like halfway between an upscale steakhouse and Applebee's. The Applebee's part may be insulting, that's why I chose to also offer up the visual of it being more like a Capital Grille as well. The kitsch is a tad off putting. The outstretched, oversized, eagle greets you as you walk in the door along with a classic telephone booth, sans the telephone. Americana oozes out of the windows and into the building. However, the style inside is classy and not too over the top. Dark floors and furniture are what give the restaurant the feel of a steakhouse and the flare is what lends it more towards Applebee's....but again, that is not a rip on their actual food at all. I go on my lunch breaks from work and feel like I walked into a banker's meeting, without a tie I often feel under dressed. The clientele here is usually decked out to the nines, usually over the age of 40 and usually of the red meat connoisseur ilk. Oh Em Gee, what do they do to that butter to make it so F'ing good with the fresh bread that arrives at every table!? I just want to slather this all over.....wait, maybe I should stop. FIVE STARS FOR BREAD AND BUTTER, YAY! I have yet to try any of the appetizers but the tuna shashimi always seems to call out my name and I have the most difficult time NOT ordering it, mainly because of price. The salad entrees, with iceburg lettuce are overpriced and my partner will be avoiding them from now on. If I'm going to drop $12+ on a salad, it BETTER not be friggin iceburg lettuce! Insulting, to say the least.... Aaaahhh, so the burger and steak tips show up to save the day, you say? Yes they do, and raise the grade high enough to excel with flying colors!! The medium rare burger I ordered was cooked to perfection, smothered in sauteed mushrooms and swiss. I probably shouldn't eat red meat for a week to avoid an impending heart attack, but I had cravings for the same exact thing the very next day. Everything about it, including the french fries and honey mustard dipping sauce....were simply perfect. Oh, and I did have tofu that night to compensate. You're going to have a tough time getting out of here for less than $15 a person so be prepared to open your wallet, but also know that it IS worth it. Go for the Americana and stay for the great food! Even our server was lovely, asking us numerous times if everything was alright, she got a nice tip that day.
(4)
Sandy C.
Came here with a 9 friends to grab some lunch. This place was pretty quiet and our server was really friendly and attentive. I never knew my friends loved bread so much until this lunch. They were like fiends when the bread came out. The bread was okay, so I wasn't too crazy about it. For appetizer, some gotten the Joe's New England Clam Chowder served in a bread bowl. The Chowder was really thick and creamy, which was pretty good. I think this should be shared because after eating one of those along with the bread bowl, I can't imagine how stuff one can be. With 9 friends, we had also ordered the Asian Chicken Salad, a Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Club Sandwich, three eggs with sausage that comes with a mimosa, farmer's omelette and 4 Joe's Original Burger. I had the Joe's Burger that came with onion rings and fries. The burger was pretty decent. The lunches here reminds me of a fancy diner of some sort, except at this place there's white table cloths and there is a wine menu. Very typical American food.
(4)
Kate R.
I don't write many reviews here but I felt obligated to do so because of our experience at this restaurant last night. If the service alone had been terrible (which it was), I might not have bothered, but my fiance got terrible food poisoning from his meal, so I figured it was only fair to warn others. Our waitress, whose name I don't remember but who was middle aged and had dark hair, was hopelessly incompetent- to say that waitressing did not come naturally to her would be an understatement. Taking our order was an awkward, aggressive production and I found myself hoping she wouldn't stop by our table to check on us just because I knew that whatever exchange that transpired would be uncomfortable. We aren't people to look for flaws at restaurants. We generally give places the benefit of the doubt. But my water had a hair in it, my silverware had a large chunk of food stuck to it, my beer was brought to me room-temperature rather than cold, my salad was brought with dressing (even though I'd asked for it with dressing on the side) and had to be re-made, my fiance's soup was brought out at the same time as his meal even though he'd asked for it in advance of his meal, and the sides he was given were incorrect- they actually gave him salmon with a side of mashed potatoes and a baked potato. Two potatoes- seriously? So that had to be sent back too. We left the restaurant having not enjoyed the meal even a little bit. But the food poisoning that struck my fiance several hours after we got home ensured we weren't going to be able to forget this meal for a long time. (My guess is perhaps the salmon?) He has been miserable ever since dinner last night. If you value your health, avoid this restaurant like the plague.
(1)
Matthew P.
This was my first time visiting this restaurant. I was a little skeptical at first since it was attached to a Hampton Inn. I sat at the bar and the service was good. The bartenders were very helpful and attentive. I order the crab cakes for an appetizer. It wasn't great but definitely not bad. I also ordered the jambalaya for my main meal. I'm a big jambalaya fan and order it often during my travels. This jambalaya was really good. I'm a fan and would order it again. Overall I think this is good place to eat and reasonably priced. I will be back next time I travel to the area.
(4)
Ashley C.
I was expecting a burger joint when I walked in, but it's definitely more business professional.... The food is delicious and the restaurant is seriously clean. I have to say the chicken pot pie is awesome!! Fluffy crust, creamy gravy... yum! The prices are high end but so is the food.
(4)
Angela L.
I read the other reviews and have to echo several things. I ordered a steak - told them they could do the NY strip or the ribeye, whichever the kitchen thought was a better piece of meat. What I got was pretty grisly, especially for $26. I skipped the potato (I'm watching carbs) and asked for the ONE green vegetable on the menu, the sauteed spinach, of which I got maybe three bites worth. Had to ask for silverware... got a fork with serious crust on the handle. Agree that this restaurant has had better days - did not know about new owner. This area needs a good American/grill fare restaurant. I was on my way to Wayland - sure wish I had held out for the Coach Grill down there.
(2)
Charlotte M.
Came here on Mother's Day. There was a 3 hour wait! So my brother and I sat in the section near the bar where you can seat yourself. It took about 10 minutes for anyone to bring us menus. Granted it was Mother's Day, but it was quite a while. Service was a little short with us, you could tell she was very busy. My primavera pasta came out with shrimp on it, I didn't order it that way, she took it back right away and the correct pasta came out pretty quickly, and the cook brought it over himself and apologized. That was nice! They are no longer carrying the Strawberry Shortcake, I was pretty sad to hear about this. One comment in relation to another patron. One of my biggest pet peeves, people who invite themselves to sit at dirty tables. An older couple sat at a table that had recently been vacated. It still had plates, glasses, silverware, and napkins on it. There were 2 other clean tables available they could have sat at. They then beckoned the server over to come and clean the table off, and were frustrated when she didn't hear them because she was taking another table's order. DON'T sit at dirty tables people! It's gross and demeaning when someone has to bus, clean, and set a dirty table you decided to sit at.
(3)
Mike B.
Stopped in for dessert since we were staying at the Hampton Inn attached to it. The stuff we got wasn't fantastic, but it was ok.
(3)
Heather R.
The bar staff is the best here! I literally only go for the prime rib, great deal and they are very good at cooking it to my liking, rare. Which is difficult on prime rib. It is a weekly spot for me, but I am moving soon and I will definitely miss the bar staff!
(4)
Maggie G.
VERY impressed with the friendly and attentive bartender, Ian. Finding myself making Joe's my new favorite stop because of the welcoming that I receive. I'd had a list in my head of five things a server/bartender would have to do to really impress me - and he nailed all five. Love that! Each time I've been in the food's been great and the drinks better! Looking forward to my next visit!
(5)
Tank T.
Food is hit or miss, was there once, was very good, went again on Friday the 30th of Nov, 2012, and was meh. Drink order for 4 guys, one beer flat, diet soda with lime, no lime. Never got water for one after ordering, and reminder. Food was ok, very skimpy on fries with the Chicken Club. Servers seem to congregate at a central location, chatting and checking phones. Servers when not at the central terminals, walk quickly by, and avoid your looks, hand up, and saying "excuse me". Doubtful will go back.
(2)
Jenn T.
Disgusting... Food was not good, mac n cheese was bland, London broil was horrifying. It was a weird purple color and looked like entrails you would feed an animal. I will definitely never go back to a Joes
(1)
Susan R.
I have NO IDEA why this has only three stars. This place is AWESOME. We went for dinner Saturday night and I have nothing but AMAZING things to say. The service was excellent, the food was good - I'd say 4 stars for the food but honestly the service blew it out of the park. I've been to classy, 5 star, black tie restaurants in NYC that didn't have service this good. We got there early - it was like, 5 or 6 - and the place was pretty empty. They have a big wine list for a burger joint and had a recommended wine they poured us samples of and everything. Okay, so, I have celiac's, so I'm terribly sick if I eat bread, right? So first of all, they have gluten free buns for their burgers (awesome!). And everything is made from scratch, so not only is the food delicious, but you don't have to worry about any cross contamination or anything and also you know the food is fresh!! So the gluten free buns, they're obviously not quite bun shaped, they look kind of like pancakes, they're flat, but damn if they aren't gluten free (rice flour ftw!) bread buns to put on my burger, I am super happy. And the sweet potato fries were AWESOME. And my friend who got a regular burger said his was good too. And the portions were huge; I could only eat half the burger and had to take the rest home. So it was $15 for a burger and a huge thing of sweet potato fries, but I got two meals out of it because it was so big. So the AWESOME PART - So you know, it's a normal restaurant, they give you bread when you sit down. So they bring the bread and my friend eats it (and says it's delicious btw), and our waitress - her name was Sam I think? sweet dark haired chick - came over to take our order and noticed I wasn't eating the bread and was like, "Oh you don't like the bread?" And I told her I had celiac's, and she was like, oh! Hold on just a second. And about 10 minutes later the chef came out and handed me a basket which had gluten free bread, that were delicious, with the butter on the side and everything, just like a normal bread basket normal people get. This has never happened to me before; it was so super cool. And the manager came over when the food came to say that she had watched them make my burger and assured me that there was not even a crumb of gluten near it. And she came back twice during the meal to make sure that everything was okay. So super cool. The place is clean, everyone is friendly, and they are so accommodating about allergies it's ridiculous. We're def going back.
(5)
Scott J.
I had lunch here with a few friends on a Wednesday in the middle of the week between Xmas and New Year's and I was extremely disappointed. I was really looking forward to the Cobb Salad, one of my recent favorites everywhere else. Unfortunately, the waste of a crispy shell holding the salad was stale and, rather than use full pieces of lettuce, it contained only shredded lettuce. That doesn't work in a salad. Also, what's a cobb salad without larger pieces of bacon -- and there was no egg, either. Just tons of shredded lettuce and black olives, along with three measly strips of avocado. No thank you and I'm still hungry. I'd only go back because it's convenient for friends who have a baby.
(2)
David K.
Loved it! We were tired after a long car ride, and just picked this because it was close to our hotel. What a find! Excellent service and awesome food!
(5)
Jay H.
I was a bit skeptical after reading the reviews but knowing that negatives will get posted much more quickly and frequently than positives, I decided to check it out (especially since I can take the elevator home - staying at the attached Hampton Inn). Boy, am I glad I did! The food was good (not great) but the staff was fantastic!! I sat in the bar area and everyone that I encountered was really polite, attentive and nice. I ate a good meal (Minestrone and a very good Ahi Tuna Salad) and had a couple of beers and didn't even sit at the bar. One of the bartenders asked my name as I paid and thanked me for being there. Today I thought about heading into North End for Italian and pubs but didn't feel like dealing with the traffic and drive since I leave tomorrow and will be back in the area at least 3 times this year. So, I returned to Joe's. Sitting at a table in the bar area, I ordered a drink and dinner. When the bartender from the night before, Holly, brought my calamari out (not the greatest but good), she greeted me by name! Less than 30 seconds of interaction the night before among a number of bar patrons (VERY crowded, especially for its location) and she remembered my name. Fantastic!! We chatted a bit and I was so impressed by Holly! All of the other wait/bartending staff that I talked to (mostly Lisa and Diane) were also very nice and paid a lot of attention to me as a customer. I can say that this is a place I will return to and that I can highly recommend BECAUSE of the staff, especially Holly (since I'm in the Boston area it may be "Harley", okay, it's not but it could be - c'mon, sound it out)! For the rating, the food gets a 4 (calamari could be more tender but it does have good flavor; fresh chilis instead of pickled would be even better) but the staff get a 6 (Holly a 7!!)!
(5)
Heather C.
Food is great at this location, but the service is only so, so. The wait staff can be aggressive about suggesting that you start with soup or salad, but then seem to disappear during the meal when you might need a refill or something.
(3)
Alex D.
I just went here and have no idea why this place has anything less than 5 stars. The burger was excellent, the service was awesome (our server was Sam who was super nice), and the gluten free options are super good. Best of all? The price wasn't above other good bars. Strongly recommend!
(5)
Kell B.
Usually I frequent other Joes american but on this occasion i was near the city and we decided to try this one. Over the past year everything at all the Joes seems to have gone down in quality. Our experience here was a nightmare, we choose to just laugh about it, because really there was nothing else we could do. We sat in bar area at the tables during lunch. Our waitress had a few other tables. Not to many, but was very confused the entire time. Bringing us random drinks, never really being accessible. The food was all decent, but the food used to be so much better here before. The bread is still amazing. To top everything off our waitress gave us the wrong bill. Thankfully we saw this because It wasn't worth the money we paid let alone a higher check! No plans of returning to this location and honestly probably any of the other locations. Things have just gone to far downhill.
(1)
Kenji G.
your chili has been epic lately. Nice work.
(4)
Mike R.
Went here for lunch today. It seems that they they just redesigned their menu. In all honesty, I like their old menu was better. It seems that they have taken away some of the little things. But the old tried and true items are still good. Maybe, they are a bit smaller but still good. I have gotten the Buffalo chicken wrap and I didn't like it at all. it had way too much blue cheese dressing. This time around I got the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with chili. The chicken was tender, the chili was good. Great item and it was a reasonable price at $12.50. (the chili was an extra $1.5 but if you get it on the side, they give you a mini bowl of it, which seems like a great value) My wife got the french dip. It was great, My two complaints are that they only give you a thin layer of meat and it is a bit expensive at $14. Before they re-designed the menu they gave you a-lot more meat. Service is a little hit and miss. This time around was good. Although there were times in the past when it wasn't. Ever since they re-launced the menu, it seems that they have taken away the little things. They don't give you bread while you wait for your meal anymore. And worst of all, during sunday brunch, they would give you little muffins to have with your coffee, while you waited for your food. Well, those muffins are now gone... or at least they were a couple of months ago. Ever since they eliminated the muffins, we stopped going there for brunch. All and all, the food is good but you just have to know what to order. Or better yet, what not to order.
(3)
Kevin T.
Nice place to come watch the game. Reminds me a lot of a Ruby Tuesday. Little costly, but good food in the end.
(3)
Rob F.
I go to this place religiously. Since I moved here (summer 2010) I've had nothing but good experiences so now I'm a regular. The food is very good and the drink prices are average. The bar staff is friendly and quick. The restaurant is tied to a hotel but it's definitely not a "hotel restaurant". I do see a lot of locals there so it's not all hotel guests. Some days it's packed, others not so much. If you're with a date, it's comfortable. If you're alone, sit at the bar and visit Ian, Trish, or Mike. They'll take good care of you.
This was my first visit to this restaurant, in company with four friends. I had no idea what to expect never having eaten at any restaurant in the franchise. However based on this experience I will not be eating at any Joe's in the future! It was nothing short of terrible! I found the wait staff to be rude and unhelpful. As a previous reviewer mentioned the staff were AWOL, clustered around their desk having a great old time. Our waitress did break away a couple of times to see if she could push some more drinks but that was about the extent of her interest. We ordered the crabcakes and nachos for an appetizer. The waiter didn't inform us that the "crabcakes" consisted of a single cake obviously from a bulemic crab. There was much hilarity between my friends and I as we tried to figure out how to divide up the creature. We ended up with 1/2 forkful each. The nachos were something else. A small mound of nacho chips welded together somehow with a dried substance which at one time might have been cheese. There was a small demitasse of sauce on the side. Anyone trying to serve themselves from the heap move the entire pile off the plate in one piece. A jackhammer might have helped dislodge a piece or two. Ever the optimist I ordered the sirloin steak tips ($17.99) medium well. They were one notch north of rare when they arrived and provided a good half hour of chewing entertainment before they could be swallowed. The gravy, what there was of it, tasted like it came out of a Lipton foil packet. One friend order the Marguerite Pizza which barely covered the middle of a standard dinner plate. The poor guy starred at his plate in disbelief when it arrived - even at $10 it was a ripoff. We would have gotten more enjoyment from Panera's across the street for a LOT less than the $40 apiece this joint bilked us for. Never again!
(1)
scott j.
You know the old saying, dont fix what isnt broken. That shouldve been the motto for this place before they sold it. They have been under new management for about a year I believe and every time has been worst than the time before. I work about 1/4 mile away so I like to add this in to my weekly lunch routine. Well after going here 1-2 times a week over the past 3 years I have become accustomed to certain things and have even taken some of the changes in stride since I liked it so much, but not anymore... The new menu has been launched which is similar to before however it seems as if EVERY dish went UP and price and went DOWN in size, not a good combination. Our server only came over to smile one time and that was coincidentally as she gave us the bill. Without getting into compainting about each individual dish and what was wrong with it I can tell you that in our party of 4 all 4 of us had left unhappy and unsure about our next return. This is tough to say and have not wanted to write this for a while since as I mentioned this place is my favorite and has my favorite meal but between the service, the price increase, and the quantity of food going down I do not think we will be rushing back. One thing that restaurants like this do way to often is they get to cocky and believe that what they have is better than what it is and I feel that is exactly what happened here. If you want to be considered more upscale and charge higher prices, than you should atleast leave your customers feeling satisfied with the meal and experience and that we were not.
(1)
Aniela L.
As my roommate said tonight, "it's one of those places that could be on Kitchen Nightmares!" This restaurant was not at all what I expected. I fully expected a TGI Friday's-type restaurant as far as atmosphere, but was sadly disappointed to find a dark, boring atmosphere. Definitely not a place for the 20-something crowd, or for those of us pushing 30+. More like a place my grandparents might enjoy. Our waitress was attentive, and overall service was good. Food on the other hand was not so great. Our fried mozzarella came out of the kitchen completely burnt, and entrees were not much better. Perhaps this is a place to go if you already know one or two really good things on the menu, but if you're looking to stop in as a newcomer, you're better off going down the street to one of the other restaurants.
(2)
Steve L.
Had an all-day meeting, so 8 of us wanted to go out for dinner. Too tired to drive into Boston, we decided to meet here at Joe's American. There's about 14 of these restauarants in MA, CT, NJ, and RI. Basically, they serve, well, American food. You know, burgers, steaks, fish, pizza, ribs..... First order of business was a beer, so I ordered a seasonal Sam Adam's Oktoberfest. The pint came promptly, and I continued to scan the menu. Started out with a cup of New England clam chowder. Good start, nice chunks of clams. These clams were very fresh, tender, not chewy. Soup was thick, but not goopy, and a nice little buttery taste. For entree, I had the sirloin steak tips. These were 8-9 chunks of steak tips, grilled to order, and came with a little carafe of mushroom gravy, onion rings, and mash potatoes. Steak tips were grilled medium rare as requested, very tender, and very tasty. Don't know what was with my table-mates, but they didn't want dessert. That didn't stop me, so I ordered a Charles River Pie. Didn't know what to expect, but when it arrived, my eyes opened up, as well as my table-mates. This was about a 5-inch high coffee ice cream pie, topped with fudge, whipped cream, and almonds, on a chocolate cookie crust. Sooooo gooood! With a hot cup of coffee, I had no problem finishing it. No complaints about the service. They were attentive, and all of the waitstaff worked together to serve all of their customers.
(4)
V M.
Came here for dinner and we had a pleasant dining experience. I had their turkey burger with sweet potato fries. It was yummy. My sister had asked for the angel hair pasta with no cheese. The waitress said it came with cheese (even though the menu said otherwise). She wrote down, "No cheese." Well, we got the pasta and there was some cheese in it. I tried some even though it looked like tiny chopped up garlic. It was definitely cheese. We sent it back stating there was cheese in it and the waitress kinda tried arguing saying there wasn't any. She took it back and gave us another, this time without cheese. She apologized and I told her that it was because she was allergic. The waitress then tells us, after the fact, that if it was a food allergy that they have a totally different procedure for that. It was kind of a waste telling us that then. You should have the same procedure, allergy or not, when someone tells you they don't want a certain something in their entree. I'd go to other places to eat if I visited Boston again. The food was decent but the whole "food allergy" procedure that the restaurant had was totally absurd and a complete turn off.
(2)
David A.
I can't give this place more than 3 stars. The food was average, service was competent but not blown away in any way. For a place called "American Joe's" I have to agree with prior reviews that it's def not the place to watch any games. Sporadic TV's spread around a small area with little to no sound on a packed evening. Drink selection was okay, entree's were... average. I wish I could be more in depth, but this place was just a solid 3. Not bad, but nothing to write a great review about.
(3)
Kate R.
I went on a Sat a few hours after lunch so I can't say much to how crowded it gets during peak hours. There was hardly anyone there when I went. It's a bit weird as the parking lot for it is behind a hotel. Food was decent. I ordered Fish & Chips. The fried fish part was excellent. 'Chips' (american chips, ie French Fries) not so much. They were a bit on the greasy and overcooked side. The servers were nice but a bit slow at orders, refills, and such.
(3)
Warren C.
Terrible. For appetizer we had loaded nachos, but they were very skimpy on the cheese. My blackened burger was terrible. Service was slow and unfriendly. I would not return.
(1)
Mike N.
The food is nothing to write home about, but it's not bad. I had a thoroughly so-so burger. Won't go back unless I'm starving
(3)
Miss M.
Years ago, I used to love coming here, but in recent years--unfortunately it seems to have gone from, a classy american look to more of a cold corner pub feel, where the floors were most likely cleaned with a dirty mop. It's really sad. It looks run down now. The food was a HUGE disappointment. The meat and fish weren't as fresh. I started with an ahi tuna appetizer that was straight up strange. Even a side of french fries tasted like they were dipped in some sort of detergent. The french onion soup wasn't bad, but it's not hard to make. The ribs appetizer was okay, not much meat to it. But all in all, for the quality and quantity of the food--it's WAY over priced. I would have understood if the food was fresher, and like it was years ago. It's a pity, I feel as though management or the corps have just not given a care, or just think they are up to par. Well I disagree. So, all in all, I'd go to Uno's for a better experience, for half the price. I am sad that it's gone down hill. But paying 65 dollars for: mediocre-bad lunch fish and chips, a cup of soup and a few short ribs, three sodas...doesn't make sense to me. Plus we had a strange waiter. But...I wouldn't be passionate if I worked there either.
(2)
Alex M.
Had the Mac & Cheese with Parmesan bread crumbs, with a glass of orange juice (freshly squeezed!) about half an hour ago. Best thing I've ever had. Loved my waitress too. Great prices and hope to be back here again!
(5)
John E.
At ~$20 The steak tips and mash was good, and the bartender was great
(3)
Joe D.
Love this place! I never pass up the opportunity have dinner & drinks at Joe's. Great food, and exceptional service.
(4)
Paul B.
I'd have to agree with the recent reviews that Joe's seems to be slipping. It seems that the quality has decreased as the chain continues to grow. I've eaten here a couple times in the last 6 months and it's been satisfying to a degree but it seems more in line with TGI Fridays than the more upscale restaurant and bar that it appears to be. My last 2 orders were steaks and both have been over cooked. Ironically there is a chart on the menu describing what each category of wellness means but it does not coincide with what actually comes from the kitchen. I ordered my steak medium the first time and got it well done. Thinking I would be smarter the second time I ordered it medium rare and ended up with medium-well (very little pink). There is a great drink menu but it seemed that the drinks were weak. I do have to say that the staff is always great and I enjoyed not being rushed out after dinner so that we could have a couple drinks and hang out.
(2)
Steve F.
I'm a big fan of this place. Let me first start out telling you that their bread and butter might just be the best around. If you like Chili this also is a must try. My favorite entree is the chicken picata, if you like this dish you must order this.
(4)
Jack M.
Remember when this was JC Hillary's? Loved it then. Not much has changed - decor is the exact same. Food is too. Waitstaff is a crapshoot - but - well, it's an "American" Bar & Grill, so that goes with the terrirory. I am never blown away by the food here - I just like drinking here. The pasta dish with all the vegetables is pretty good. Chicken Pot Pie is decent too. Go if you're sick of all the crummy mexican places nearby....
(4)
John F.
Had a business lunch there and was totally unimpressed. The lettuce in my salad was clearly old and wilted, and the water was luke warm. They could at least put ice in their water pitchers.
(1)
Carolyn P.
I went to Joe's with a girlfriend who'd never been before. I should of had her drive further up the road to the one in Peabody. The service was crappy at best, the waiter seems to never notice us. My spinach had so much salt on it, it truly was inedible. When I asked for a new vegetable, it took 15 minutes to get broccoli. How tough is it to cook? The whole night was a bomb..
(2)
Justin B.
Gave it one more chance. Got a Burger. It tasted like it had been marinated, basted, and then slathered with kerosene. I could not eat it. My dinner companion got a chicken club but they forgot to put bacon on it. The waitress was not concerned that neither of us really even touched our food. The fries were good. The margaritas were good as well. I am still dropping it down to one star though.
(1)
Sory D.
Loved, that's my new " lunch point" food is good, drinks too and the sevice Gosh I have no words to explain: how polite and efficient " Ian Butters " (the bartender ) is, he knows everyone and he treats everybody like an old friend. Yes I'm coming back weekly
(4)
Marc H.
I've been here once and that was about it for me. Why? Well, I ordered a burger and fries, and the burger was so-so, but it was the fries--they tasted really funny. I ate a few and stopped, thinking that there was something wrong with them. Well, I got sick that night and was unable to eat much of anything for nearly a week. I could have written this off as a one-time thing, but I just have no desire to go back there again.
(1)
Jonathan K.
What can I say, it's Joe's. I've had good service and bad service. My son being 2.5 loves coloring and the chicken tenders...for a hangout with a few drinks it's okay...Personally I'm not much of a chain restaurant person, I prefer the atmosphere of smaller pubs and local restaurants...
(3)
C.M. M.
Thirty dollars for a glass of wine and an individual margharita pizza - well, sort of - their version is flatbread with tomato sauce (read - NO Tomatoes) and a half a pound of cheap cheese melted with DRIED basil sort of sprinkled on the middle. The menu read "tomatos, mozzarella, and fresh basil" - blech! Horrid! And expensive to boot! Not a place I return to...
(1)
Christie L.
WOW. That's all I can say! We went here on a Thursday night and it was packed. The staff was super friendly and it seemed way more classy than I anticipated. The name led me to believe it was more of a diner type place, boy was I wrong! I ordered the sirloin tips that came with carmelized onions, mashed potatoes, and gravy. I honestly can see why some people might think the place is just so so based on this dish. Every bite I thought...I've had better. BUT, I had started with the clam chowder, very thick and full of clams. It was the best chowder that we've had in the area so far! Their bread is also very good. And the real winner was my bf's dish. It was sooo good that it would make me give 5 stars literally no matter what I ate. There was a prime rib special (normally only served Fri and Sat) and he ordered the 24oz. It was cooked perfectly and was so juicy and flavorful. Neither of us could think of any prime rib we'd had that was better than this prime rib. I highly recommend it!!!! We'll definitely be back!!!
(5)
Mike S.
To the (hot) bartender who barely said hello to me and didn't bother asking me if I wanted to order from the menu that I had to practicly beg her for: EAT ME!!! I liked this place when it began, but now this place is like a McDonalds, only the staff aren't as nice and the prices are twenty times as high. I shall NEVER return - NEVER!!!!
(1)
michael m.
I've only ever been here for lunch. It is very crowded and busy (with all the offices and what-not in close proximity). The food is okay, standard American fare -- burgers, sandwiches, seafood, but nothing worth writing home about. Service is the best part -- the wait staff is very good. I used to work right up the street, and we nicknamed the place "Average Joe's", because there is nothing unique about this place.
(3)
Julia F.
I like it. Slightly expensive, but I have only had good experiences here. I like the food, and often the bar isn't that crowded and the bartenders were nice all times I went. I will go back, one of these days. I took some time to think back, and this was the first in a VERY long line of bars I went to for the pub crawl on my 21st birthday, so no wonder my memory of it was a little foggy... Perhaps I should go back, not necessarily to repeat that ludicrous night, just to check it out again...
(4)
Carrie M.
After having a great experience at the Joe's in Natick, my boyfriend and I decided to grab a quick dinner at this location. We were seated promptly, shared an appetizer and both order an entree. The food took forever to come and the waitress was slow, with no personality. She spent most of our visit chatting with the host in the kitchen( we could see from our seat). We were able to leave once another waiter noticed our waitress hadnt been there in a while and wrapped up our leftovers and brought the check. Food was average.. During previous visits we had noticed that Joe's serves brunch. Sunday morning we gathered up a few friends and headed that way, excited for the complimentary cocktails with an entree purchase. We were sat quickly again and ordered our cocktails. Our waitress return to let us know that Mass Liquor laws didn't allow them to serve us. OK. So we ordered juice and coffee(which was disgusting and over priced). The food was pretty bad. Nothing to write home about. Waitress was not bad this time.. slow though. All in all I don't recommend this Joe's...
(1)
Dan M.
The clam chowder in a bread bowl was wonderful. Crab cakes were pretty good as well. The place was packed and the service was fair. Not bad at all for a chain.
(4)
Christine S.
The chili. Yup that's what I would recommend. I know, not what you would first think when you head to a restaurant with all the offerings Joe's has but really, this homemade, chunky and spicy chili is excellent. Especially with the bread they serve. A nice cold draft beer and truly you'll be all set. Of course you can venture into other items on the menu. All standard fare there in my opinion and a bit too pricy for what you get. Place gets the business crowd. Some fun people watching can occur at the bar.
(3)
Ron L.
Great burgers and fries, just wish they gave you more fries. The buns they use for the burgers are tasty too. Used to go there every Friday for a burger and couple of Sam Adam's drafts for lunch. Waitstaff got to know my friend and I fairly quick (we eat next to the bar) so when they saw us coming from the parking lot, our beers were already waiting for us on the bar when we walked in...this after only three or four vists. Nicely done. They definitely have better food than the usual chain restaurants like Ninety-Nine or Applebee's.
(4)
Lisa C.
I am completely basing this review on one visit a few months back: Myself and two friends decided to try the brunch..us all being huge fans. We were all especially happy about the booze that's included in the price! It was about 11:00am when we arrived. Our server was nice, brought us all coffee and started to take our orders. Myself and one of my friends ordered the eggs Benedict, and my other friend got a fresh fruit cup and hash browns. When we asked for our mimosas, we were denied. What the hell!!!!!! You do NOT screw around with booze. Especially when it comes to us three. So when we asked why we couldn't have the drinks, they responded with "we can't serve liquor until 12:00pm on Sundays". Ok. Totally understandable. I'll get back to this later... About the meal... Eggs benedict was so-so. It tasted like the hollandaise was sitting under a heat lamp for an hour. The poached eggs were great though. When we got our bill, all three of us were surprised that we had been charged full price for our coffees. I know it doesn't seem like a huge deal, but we paid for booze, didn't get it - so we got coffee instead. No big deal, right? Wrong. We asked our server to take off the price of the coffees (about $5) hoooly shit. She went into the kitchen area (which was right behind us) and told her manager the entire story. We heard everything, which is ANNOYING. We don't need to hear the entire conversation. It's unprofessional and RUDE. So the manager comes over and explains that it's not his fault that we can't have booze. Ok, we were over the booze, just comp my coffee so we can get outta this place. He made a mountain out of a mole-hill and my friend put him in his place!!! He was being completely ridiculous, REFUSING to comp us for the price of the coffee when we paid MORE for a drink we couldn't have. WTF!? In the end, he ended up comping my friends entire meal, which was WAY more than we had expected, what an idiot! I won't go back here.
(3)
Brian B.
Overall, mid level average food quality. Nothing I had was super wow nor was it bad in any way either. I had a pretty decent cheeseburger with the fried mozzerella appetizer. Also had a cup of the clam chowder. Everything was pretty good and so was the service. I would not go out of my way to eat here but it's very convenient if you are staying at the Hampton Inn which is connected to it.
(3)
Busy L.
Big disappointment. Quality and service went downhill. Service was horrible and food was subpar. Crabcakes were fishy. Steak with melted cheddar was lacking flavor and tasted like the steak was soaked in a brine. S&S cheesecake was the only highlight.
(1)
Lyndsay B.
While expensive, Joe's food is pretty good. The (lunch) service here is quick and efficient (just what you want at lunch). Call ahead if you're planning for a large group, otherwise getting a table can be a bit difficult.
(4)
Jessica B.
It's not listed, but Joe's in Natick is the best! Steve the manager is awesome, he really knows how to take care of people. And the grande nachos are to die for!
(5)
Mike T.
service was horrible and the food was cold and there was no one in the place i would not go here again
(1)
John R.
Not the very good pretty much all the Joe's are the same and all not the best, I have tried the Woburn location out several times now and was never even close to being impressed with the food but again none of the Joe's are in my top picks for steak/food. The service was OK staff was hit or miss, some were friendly at times other were not but they are not the reason fo only two stars. The food mediocre at best the steaks are just not very tastey not sure if it's the way they cook them or just low quality meat. Every time I have visited the place only had a handful of customers, maybe my timing was off but IMO if this is the norm for the place I can't believe they make enough money to keep the doors open. The two Joe's in Boston seem to attract a bigger crowd but I am sure they are more tourists than actual Boston residents. I wouldn't recommend going to Joe's there is plenty out there that are much better.
(2)
David Y.
Only place local that shows Steelers games!
(5)
Matthew A.
Went here recently for a business lunch. Service was really attentive- almost too much so. Had iced tea- very good! Started with soups - both were fine. Not remarkable, but decent. Both had salads. I had the house Caesar with steak. The steak was a flank cut. Very small portion maybe 2 oz at the most. Over cooked and not at all flavorful. Nice space & atmosphere. Was super busy on a Wednesday at 12:30 but when we left an hour later is was really quiet. So big lunch place.
(3)
Andrew P.
Look, I probably would not have chosen this place but it was a convenient meeting place at the time. Woops. What a mistake, this was literally my worst dining experience in ages. I had been here about six months ago, sat in the bar and had an ok to slightly above ok experience. Last night, this couldn't have been further from the case. The waitress was clearly new, but like way too new to be on her own. The service was INCREDIBLY slow. Like next level I would rather just drink water from the hose outside slow. It took 15 mins to get drinks, the table next to me was sat and then left before the server got there. The next table that sat complained and had managers deliver their food for the rest of the night and the table to my left complained with us about how bad the service was. You would think that if a table was complaining about service, the management might take a look at the other tables that the server is covering. The food was just ok. For a $16 burger, there are plenty of other places I would rather go but honestly I am sure that the bad taste was much more reflective of the service. I have no problem having a one star experience when I walk into a chain, I half expect it. At a place like this you shouldn't have that happen. I do not recommend for anyone, won't be recommending to anyone and definitely will not be going back. Good luck if you are still considering.
(1)
Lizzie B.
It was fine, I guess. There is something inherently depressing about spending Thanksgiving at a chain restaurant, but alas, this is what my Grandmother wanted. We had a 12 p.m. reservation for 11 people. We were seated promptly, and were the only people in the entire restaurant for at least an hour. They had at least 15 servers on staff, yet somehow two people had to ask for silverware, and I waited over 20 minutes for my first glass of wine. Staff were nice - just seemed like they were a bit out to lunch. I can't really blame them - I wouldn't be chomping at the bit to work on a major holiday either. Food was passable. For $25 you get all you can eat turkey dinner which includes - white turkey breast (no skin), mashed potatoes, squash, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy. You could also order the scallop risotto ($25) which was not all you can eat. I ordered the latter and was pretty satisfied. The risotto was creamy and included a lot of veggies - carrots, spinach, some other greens - and unfortunately, what appeared to be canned mushrooms. It came with 5 scallops - three bigger sized ones, and two tiny ones. I didn't try the turkey dinner but my Uncle Michael said "it tasted like an entire weeks worth of sodium" Most people at the table echoed this sentiment. On the plus side - Joe's sends home with every turkey order - a completely new, whole plate of turkey - free of charge. General Notes: Water glasses were not refilled often enough. Music was weird - top 40 (Fitz and the Tantrums, random hip-hop) AND Micheal Buble? Joe's really needs to settle with a themed play list. None of this music really fit the holiday mood nor the clientele. TIP: When the average age of the patrons is 65 - don't play Britney Spears. Complimentary bread was a bit stale, but I appreciated the soft, whipped butter. Beer was served with chilled mugs - well played! I had to ask for a drink list - that was annoying. Especially with a large party - wanting to get down and be festive - it's in your best interest to push us towards the booze. Most people in my party just randomly shouted out domestic beers, and hoped Joe's had them. My Irish Coffee was weak - not weak in booze, but rather served with weak coffee. I'm also pretty sure they used skim milk rather than cream. We were led to believe Joe's only offered one desert - the pumpkin cheese cake. After half of us already ordered. my Aunt Lynette found out that we could order any desert on the regular menu. Too bad a regular menu was never provided. When prompted - the waitress orally informed us of the other options. Pumpkin cheese cake was amazing! By far the best thing I ate - creamy and light, with homemade whip cream -YUM! I also loved my Aunt Lynette's salted caramel cheese cake. It tasted exactly like Goetz's Caramel creams. Decor was nice. Large, clean bathrooms, nice dark wood paneling dining room.. comfortable chairs. All and all - it was an ok experience, but I'm not rushing to go back. It's nice not to have to deal with cooking and cleaning the house - but the experience just felt stale and anemic. I was also expecting higher quality food and service from a restaurant owned by Atlantic Fish Company and Abe and Louie's. 2.5 stars.
(3)
N F.
They no longer serve prime rib, but there are a few other options.
(3)
doug r.
I chose to sit in the dining room as I wanted something a tad quieter than the noisy bar area. But karma seated a couple with a noisy two year-old behind me. Silly parents thought they could reason with a two year-old. Why did I chose Joe's? It was convenient (behind) my hotel and they offer a 10% discount to hotel guests. I was not in the mood to engage Woburn's traffic. I arrived ~6:20PM and was seated immediately. Bar area was quite busy/noisy. Dining room, not so much. Sabrina was my server. Attentive, hustles, knows the menu, hustles ... and got everything right the first time. She should be working somewhere more upscale - bigger checks should equal bigger tips. I opt'd for their $25 prix fixe menu. The three shrimp appetizer, seafood stew entree (mussels, salmon & a very petite lobster tail in an unremarkable sauce) and a bread pudding w/ice cream dessert. It was satisfactory, but did not delight. Would I order this combo again? No. Will I return? Possibly. After long days, I'm really not in the mood to travel for food. WiFi network is insecure. A business computer/server is on the same subnet that customers access. Baaad juju. One star for the guest-WiFi network. Three stars for the food. Five stars for Sabrina.
(3)
Damien S.
For all the polish and crisp collars on the staff, I'm a bit surprised as to how sloppy the actual food is at this regional chain's locale. My turkey burger ($14) came on a "buttered"-greasy whole wheat bun with what seemed like sliced bleu cheese and a side of bland guac. The sauteed spinach requested in lieu of the standard fries featured limp, ashy leaves swimming in oily base. I can see the inherent appeal to Joe's, especially if you're a road warrior salesfolk who wants to close your clients over a seemingly high-end lunch. Bring the heavy pen, order the seared ahi tuna salad and bask in commissions and bottomless iced teas. But for a pair of hangry kids who just wanted a solid burger, Joe's limped to the rescue. I'm in no rush to head back.
(2)
Greg L.
Went here with some vendors for dinner one evening and enjoyed some delicious Nachos for an appetizer and went with their meatloaf for dinner, which was a recommendation from a coworker. The nachos were really good and quite large and was easily shareable between the 5 of us in our party. You also get complimentary bread, which was good. I couldn't believe how large my meatloaf dinner plate was. I basically got two large pieces of meatloaf over mashed potatoes and braised red cabbage on the side. A delicious meal, but way too much for me to eat! All in all, a good place to go with fast and friendly service. Would definitely come back here again next time I'm in the area.
(3)
Mark R.
I know better than to trust this restaurant chain for providing the same meal described on the menu to me. Today I ordered a Kale and Quinoa Salad. What I got was 25% Kale and 75% iceberg lettuce, a teaspoon of quinoa, and a pinch of sliced almonds. Give me a break! A $5 salad for $19 and that does include the meals tax and a 20% gratuity. Folks stay away from this place. The Kale and Quinoa Salad at the Cheesecake Factory in Burlington is fantastic.
(1)
Lisa P.
I was very disappointed when we arrived here and we're waiting quite some time for drinks and our orders to be taken. There were hitches here and there / apparently they are under new management and "lots is changing" Apparently changes not for the better - have you ever heard of a place that doesn't have house wines? Absurd! One of us had to order a $10 glass of wine not even filled to the correct level / more like "wine tasting" Their food supposedly has had a huge change since the new management - there were unpleasant sauces for my meal (much to be desired with their ranch) It was awful! On top of all of this, there was a child screaming her head of for a good portion of dinner. This was disrupting the entire dining area, it would have been nice if they would suggested a parent take her out of the room. And when we asked a staff about birthdays (because we'd taken two people out for their birthday) they replied with "we don't do that here" Needless to say, I really don't ever want to return here or any Joes.
(1)
Nikki B.
Really love their new menu. You must try the Cajun Maple Bacon!!Service was quick and friendly. One thing that's really important to me is a clean bathroom, and they had a clean one. I had the brunch eggs Benedict with crab cakes and hollandaise sauce. Excellent!
(4)
Josh F.
The bartenders here are all exquisite, and the selection in beers doesn't hurt. They recently revamped the menu and damn. A meatloaf that is made with rib meat??? Yeah, I'll get that every time.
(5)
N F.
I travel to Woburn 4x a year and eat at this restaurant three or more times (lunches/dinners) during my trips. That is 12 or so times a year -- more than I eat at certain restaurants at my own home city. My favorite meal is, well, was, the seared Ahi Tuna salad. Tonight, after flying in from southern California, I stopped before even heading to my hotel,to pick up my favorite meal. But I was informed that the menu had been changed almost 2 weeks ago, and my salad was no longer on the menu. At 9:30 at night, I didn't have a lot of other options. The staff dutifully told me what a great "new" chicken salad is now on the menu, but I can get a perfectly acceptable chicken salad at -- oh -- at least four local restaurants come to mind. Instead I opted to get a dinner salad and tuna tartare. What a colossal disappointment. The dinner salad was unspectacular unless you count the overuse of sliced onions; and the dressing was absolutely tasteless. On top of that, not wanting to drown my entire salad in salt with the include soy sauce, I simply mixed the tartare into the dinner salad. The raw tuna and avocado must have been completely unseasoned; as the result was that the whole meal had NO flavor whatsoever. Guess I've had my last meal at American Joe's. Fortunately, there are a Not Your Average Joe's, Cheesecake Factory, Season's 52 and Paparazzi all very close by with excellent food. Best of luck to you with the new menu.
(1)
Krista C.
Their burgers were delicious! Fries were good as well. I was impressed they had 60 minute on tap too. Very friendly staff as well. I would recommend this place over the other nearby chain restaurants.
(4)
Rachel L.
They have recently changed their menu and went way up on their prices. Service is either hit or miss here. I used to do takeout a lot but after paying for overpriced salads that had brown wilted lettuce and my order being wrong numerous times, I stopped going. I decided today to try it since it's been a while. The sandwich I always used to order was $11 is now $15, how do you charge $4 more for a chicken sandwich? It's not a chicken club anymore, it's a small piece of grilled chicken on ciabata bread and fries. I'm far from cheap and have no problem paying for food that tastes good but this was not worth the money. Chicken was dry and slathered in some kind of flavored mayo. I won't be back anytime soon, not worth the cost.
(2)
Fred S.
A bit overpriced but fantastic service and food. I'm a big fan of Crabcakes and wow! are they great. Very convenient location and lots of parking. A must-stop if you're in the area of the 93/95 intersection.
(4)
Jeremiah D.
This place has an entrance that is more impressive than the food. The ambiance is that of almost high end. The food did not match. My friend ordered a steak and loaded potatoes. The steak he loved, but not for the $26 it cost. The loaded potatoes were not good he said. I had the sword fish special, as did my other friend. We did not like it at all. It lacked flavor. A piece of fish with melted butter...really? The claim chowder was actually very good. If I ever go back, it would be just for the chowder.
(3)
TinoX T.
I'm a Fan for this Place and specially the one in NewBury St NIce Food,Clean
(4)
Wm H.
Food was good, seems like a place the business men go for lunch. Hidden behind a hotel. I would return.
(4)
Alex M.
It was alright but nothing special. I split the nachos and they were pretty good. I tried the Mac n cheese and opt'd to add lobster. The lobster added nothing to the dish so save your money. The service was what killed it for me though. Nice enough waitresses, but very apathetic. I doubt I'll be back.
(3)
Elle G.
Had an unpleasant experience here last evening. Although the waiter was attentive with refills on our sodas, the food was terrible. We ordered the crab cakes appetizer and there was only one small crab cake. Since we were a couple, maybe the waiter could've indicated that there was only one when we were ordering. For main course we had the scallops risotto and the lobster mac n cheese. The scallops had a very odd flavor that I couldn't identify so I had my date try and he said the same thing. It was almost like a chemical flavor. The lobster mac n cheese was just ok. I am in no way a picky eater, I will eat almost anything. Very disappointed.
(1)
Julie P.
The service, atmosphere, wine list (albeit a little over-priced) and are excellent! We made a reservation through Open Table and were sat right away even though there was a waiting line. If you are going to get the kale salad, make sure the waiter gives you the dressing it's meant to be served with, otherwise you end up with basically raisins and raw kale (apparently the dressing softens the kale to make it more tasty). I recommend Joes!
(4)
Mahmoud E.
A company I was doing business with took me here for lunch. Nice atmosphere, abundant parking!! They serve complimentary bread which is just amazing! The best bread I ever had, I ordered a cup of clam chowder which was ok, not great, which means it's bad for Boston. Ordered the swordfish tips which was the special of the day, the swordfish was ok. Nothing special, my first time having swordfish so I found it to be slightly dry, a little too fishy, but in no way was it terrible just not preferred fish. The side rice and asparagus was perfect, the grilled lemon was a great accompaniment. Service was quick and attentive. Not a bad option for Woburn.
(3)
Ken C.
I was staying a hotel in the area for business and I decided to take a walk over to Joe's rather then eat at the place right next door (Bad Yelp reviews on the food) The service here was fantastic. It may have been the best service I have ever gotten sitting at bar (with the exception of being a regular of course). The bartender Michael quickly introduced himself and his co-bartender Jessica. he brought me a beer and took my appetizer order immediately. The two of them worked together to make sure my drink was always full and my empty plates were removed right away. They were also very friendly and always called me by name which is always nice. OK, so onto the food. I started off with the New England clam chowder which was very good. They offered me cracked pepper to top it off which was a very nice touch. I had a caesar salad after and the salmon for the main course. My fear of ordering salmon in bars is that it will be overcooked, but not here. It was grilled perfectly. It could have been seasoned a little better, but nothing that a little lemon could not fix. I would much rather it be a little bland then dried out anyway. The spinach that it was cooked over was also very nice complement. All in all, I was very impressed with Joe's and I would definitely go back if I am in the area. The food was more gastro-pub then typical bar food and the service really impressed me. Cheers.
(4)
Rachel E.
Just went here last week with my mum. Food is great. Service was good but our server was a bit over enthusiastic. He came by too often, interrupting our dinner. Beyond that it was a great time. My mom got the haddock special and I got the steak tips. Both were cooked well and tasted great.
(4)
Manfred S.
Business lunch standard place. I think I have been here a few dozen times and this is place where I forget to check in with the Yelp App. It is always basic good American food, but it is just basic good American food. There is nothing really exciting to write about this place. I go. I eat. And hopefully someone else is picking up the tab. Safe and boring, but definitely A-OK.
(3)
Paul L.
The food was very good, the waitstaff was efficient. It was a little pricey for a pub, but I would go back.
(4)
Jay C.
I had a great experience the first time I went. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. I specially loved that they served their bread warm. The second time I went the bread wasn't was cold but otherwise it was still a great experience. What I love the most was all of their vegan options. I will definitely return.
(5)
Sandra D.
This place turned into a way, way overpriced mediocre hotel food lobby restaurant. You know, the ones you go to at the hotel to grab a drink.....before or after you go out to eat. This place used to be my go to place for a great burger, great beer and great service. I had moved and hadn't been here in almost a year so when I was back in the area this was the first place I went. I was completely shocked. Instead of walking in and feeling like I was welcomed and the staff happy to see me, it was the feeling of - am I interrupting your day or something! Very non personable people here. I didn't recognize anyone from before. Service was terrible, I originally thought the waitress was in training. She was so bad I'm still not convinced she wasn't. Since the menu has considerably changed (not for the better) I had asked the waitress if she could make a burger similar to a burger that was on the old menu. I received a blank stare followed by 'so you want the (whatever it was called) burger off the menu'? Really!! No, that's not what I asked for but even after trying to explain it to her again, well, guess what I got. The burger itself was not like it use to be. It was drier, very very fast food-like thrown together, just not the same. Everything was so poorly done that I gave up, ate everything with a fork and knife, and asked for the check. Bottom line - the food is definitely not worth the jacked up prices; service is terrible; beer ok (kept it bottled so I wouldn't be further disappointed)... Where did the old management go to so I can go there?
(1)
Micaela I.
My husband and I ordered a spinach and artichoke dip as appetizer and it was delicious. And then we ordered a ribs to share since it was 2 lbs of meat and my husband ordered 2 drinks (once in a blue moon and real mojito) and both were too sweet and had no taste. The ribs were hard and we could barely cut it through. We never had a ribs as bad as that one. The service was ok.
(2)
Alexa-Rae F.
Horrible. A reservation turned into a 10 minute wait... Which turned into an hour wait with no apology/explanation. Vegetable Risotto tasted very sour and meals didn't come as ordered.
(1)
David H.
My colleague and I went for a quick lunch. I had the clam chowder which was excellent. The service was superb. For lunch I had the tuna burger which was really good. Comes with sweet potato fries as well. My colleague had the French Dip. He thought it was good, but felt the beef slices could have been a bit thicker. Would like to come back again for dinner.
(4)
Susan B.
Went here 3/8 for an early dinner on a Sunday...sat in the bar area as it's easier for my 82 yr old mom...my dd and I sat on the window side and nearly FROZE there was a breeze coming in and had to wear our coats...and NO ONE said oh gee are you cold? First off when we went in and said can we sit in the bar, the host said sure, and then wondered off no menus etc..um hello...I think we may need those to order...the waitress was great very very helpful...now onto the menu...mom got the cup of onion soup and it was fab, my burger was great, now onto my big issue...the kids menu...I have a 12 year old and she may want to eat something more than a chicken finger or hot dog...for a good restaurant they offer next to NO decent and healthy menu options for a child (someone under 16) but older than 5! No steak option for kids and the kids burger (the next table had one) looked like the chef stepped out to McD's across the street and brought it back and put it on a plate! Seriously for that kind of $$ I want something DECENT for my child...a veggie, side salad...SOMETHING other than hot dog, burger, chicken finger, fish sandwich...bummer too cause I generally like this place. Survey says...X for kids options...
(3)
Slurms M.
Honestly this is exactly what you expect for the name. It is a bloated American food joint. The food is fine. It lacks character, but generally features fresh ingredients whether or not the actual entree is worthwhile. The atmosphere is filled with business people who think highly of themselves, but aren't too high class. The bar is usually filled with people on their iPhones with their earbuds in. The staff is helpful, but is quick to disengage once another drink is passed up. Too many good places in Woburn proper to waste time on this convenient, but rather melanchology restaurant.
(2)
Chris M.
Mediocre service...a group here staying in the hotel attached to the place were told we could not be served. Unacceptable...plus the fact that they waited until the bill was paid do they could collect the tip.
(1)
Catherine W.
Service was pretty good at the bar; food was average - got tuna tartare, calamari, and a NY strip. Good amount of TVs. Driving here, I felt the sign for the restaurant is a little hard to see in the dark.
(3)
Jane R.
Although some items here are decent, none are great and the service is really sub-par. You really want to avoid their brunch,it is AWFUL. The selection is limited (small menu) and if you don't ask for the items included with your meal they will forget to serve them to you. You know, small things like juice, bread, muffins, home fries ...
(2)
Joanne G.
At one time not so long ago I went vegetarian. It was for a good reason, there was no hate towards meatlovers, just had a personal reason. Well what it's in the past is in the past, and on the way home I felt the NEED for a good steak. When I think of a steak, I think of Joe's. They never disappoint me. The New York strip is a work of art. Perfectly cooked medium with an amazing crisp edge to die for. They have good decent sides, so no disappointment there. Onion soup, wedge salad...so great. It's big enough that you aren't sitting on top of one another and you can almost not heat the sometimes annoying kids. The staff is friendly yet not in your face all the time. I like when they suggest things yet know when to stop talking.
(4)
Keri S.
Just finished up a meal with my family here. The service was good and speedy. We tried all three sangrias...all three were yummy but my favorite was the one with lemon in it. The crusty bread was delicious. All of the food was great. Burgers, crab cakes, wings, nachos, onion soup, and meatloaf are all recommended!
(4)
Joe C.
Good food fast. Great clam chowder and the ahi tuna I ever had very fresh and good prices. The service was good and was very clean.
(4)
Dennis U.
I've dined here several times and have not been disappointed...nor have I been overwhelmed. A B grade steak house with lots of other things on the menu. I had the New York steak with a baked potato and a side salad...adventuresome,eh? It was ok and a lot cheaper than some of the A team joints. Reasonable wine list, come on the weekend for the prime rib.
(3)
Michelle A.
My mom always stays in the hotel connected to JAB&G. She really loves the food there and of course the convenient location. While she was in town I ended up eating there twice. I ordered the same thing. Ribeye with sauteed spinach. Ribeye was cooked medium rare the way I liked it but the spinach was different both times. Both edible but the first night the spinach still had some life in it like if it were in a salad. The second time is was more mushy. Both edible like I said but consistency in a restaurant is key. First night the waiter was great and took care of us without being overbearing. Second night the girl was a little too much for all of our liking. She was nice and polite but came by way too much to check on us. I know customers are all different but she needs to just ease up a bit and relax. Otherwise everything was great. Food is a little pricey. The dark woods and bright lights make it an odd contrast in my opinion but manageable. Front desk staff are always super sweet. Bartenders can go either way for me. I'm not a local so I guess I don't get that treatment. Menu could use an upgrade or some additions. I guess I've been here enough to know the menu by heart.
(3)
Aaron M.
I honestly don't know how to rate this place. The decor is nice. That's about the end of the pleasantries. If you're looking for a place to quickly empty your wallet for mediocre fare than this is the place for you. The amount of food served for the price is rather dismal. Our server was lousy and barely spoke English. Your better off going to Applebee's.
(1)
Megan H.
*This is an edit. Initially, I wrote about Peabody, when I meant for Woburn's location.* Here is my experience: I just returned from a lunch hour. I meeting with my brother for a birthday meal, since it is conveniently located between us. Our server gave us a few minutes to review the menu. She was nice and knowledgeable about the daily specials, which included buffalo wings. My brother was sold, and even wanted two orders for his entree. I just picked the Original Burger. After a long conversation, our waitress asked if we might want some bread as we wait. Not keeping track of exactly what time it was, we noticed that we haven't even gotten our food, yet. I looked at my clock, at it showed 1:29 pm. I know that we sat down at 12:40. So, with 50 minutes of waiting, there was no sign of food. I wanted to give them an extra second worth of waiting, and the food finally appeared behind my brother. At that time, there would be no time to enjoy our food, so we thought to wrap it to go. Time was really ticking to head back to work, and yet... it was taking a very long time to even have that wrapped. I had to jet out of there. Sorry, Joe's American. You didn't deliver your A game at all. To wait nearly an hour during a lunch hour (which should be typical in this area) is just ridiculous. Bring your food out in 12 minutes, tops! No hate on the servers or the back of the house, but you need to fix your problem areas. That includes: -Service -Updating your menu (I've gone back to Joe's American maybe once every 1-5 years since I was 15). The menu has not changed. -You have pretty fancy prices for mediocre meals ...which leads me to, have ordering my medium done burger looked a lot like well-done. I wish I could say one good thing. But, it was just a disappointment altogether.
(1)
Mike K.
The phrase "it's a slippery slope" comes to mind. I just had lunch at Joe's American for the first time in 5 years. My last experience here was great, so I have to wonder what is going on at this location after going here again today. I went with a group of people from my office for a post Christmas lunch. With a group of 8 people we were seated in the bar area when there were clearly tables available in the dining room. I didn't want to come off as obnoxious with my co-workers so remained silent. We had a pretty unattentive server, and our initial contact for a drink order was 15 minutes from start to finish. That is simply too slow for a business lunch. She had zero personality and was simply "going through the motions." One of my colleagues ordered some type of salad and made a simple request for the dressing to be separate. This got missed, so he was forced to wait for a "replacement" salad while the rest of the group started to eat. The server was unapologetic. I had the saddest excuse for a Cobb salad possible. I don't want to get into Food Channel levels of detail, but suffice to say it was just poor in every way. This place is considered by many as a "step up" from Applebees or the 99, but I have to disagree. Ironically, there is a 99 Restaurant almost next door. I will go there next time if given the choice.
(1)
Jeff M.
It's tough to categorize Joe's. It's like halfway between an upscale steakhouse and Applebee's. The Applebee's part may be insulting, that's why I chose to also offer up the visual of it being more like a Capital Grille as well. The kitsch is a tad off putting. The outstretched, oversized, eagle greets you as you walk in the door along with a classic telephone booth, sans the telephone. Americana oozes out of the windows and into the building. However, the style inside is classy and not too over the top. Dark floors and furniture are what give the restaurant the feel of a steakhouse and the flare is what lends it more towards Applebee's....but again, that is not a rip on their actual food at all. I go on my lunch breaks from work and feel like I walked into a banker's meeting, without a tie I often feel under dressed. The clientele here is usually decked out to the nines, usually over the age of 40 and usually of the red meat connoisseur ilk. Oh Em Gee, what do they do to that butter to make it so F'ing good with the fresh bread that arrives at every table!? I just want to slather this all over.....wait, maybe I should stop. FIVE STARS FOR BREAD AND BUTTER, YAY! I have yet to try any of the appetizers but the tuna shashimi always seems to call out my name and I have the most difficult time NOT ordering it, mainly because of price. The salad entrees, with iceburg lettuce are overpriced and my partner will be avoiding them from now on. If I'm going to drop $12+ on a salad, it BETTER not be friggin iceburg lettuce! Insulting, to say the least.... Aaaahhh, so the burger and steak tips show up to save the day, you say? Yes they do, and raise the grade high enough to excel with flying colors!! The medium rare burger I ordered was cooked to perfection, smothered in sauteed mushrooms and swiss. I probably shouldn't eat red meat for a week to avoid an impending heart attack, but I had cravings for the same exact thing the very next day. Everything about it, including the french fries and honey mustard dipping sauce....were simply perfect. Oh, and I did have tofu that night to compensate. You're going to have a tough time getting out of here for less than $15 a person so be prepared to open your wallet, but also know that it IS worth it. Go for the Americana and stay for the great food! Even our server was lovely, asking us numerous times if everything was alright, she got a nice tip that day.
(4)
Sandy C.
Came here with a 9 friends to grab some lunch. This place was pretty quiet and our server was really friendly and attentive. I never knew my friends loved bread so much until this lunch. They were like fiends when the bread came out. The bread was okay, so I wasn't too crazy about it. For appetizer, some gotten the Joe's New England Clam Chowder served in a bread bowl. The Chowder was really thick and creamy, which was pretty good. I think this should be shared because after eating one of those along with the bread bowl, I can't imagine how stuff one can be. With 9 friends, we had also ordered the Asian Chicken Salad, a Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Club Sandwich, three eggs with sausage that comes with a mimosa, farmer's omelette and 4 Joe's Original Burger. I had the Joe's Burger that came with onion rings and fries. The burger was pretty decent. The lunches here reminds me of a fancy diner of some sort, except at this place there's white table cloths and there is a wine menu. Very typical American food.
(4)
Kate R.
I don't write many reviews here but I felt obligated to do so because of our experience at this restaurant last night. If the service alone had been terrible (which it was), I might not have bothered, but my fiance got terrible food poisoning from his meal, so I figured it was only fair to warn others. Our waitress, whose name I don't remember but who was middle aged and had dark hair, was hopelessly incompetent- to say that waitressing did not come naturally to her would be an understatement. Taking our order was an awkward, aggressive production and I found myself hoping she wouldn't stop by our table to check on us just because I knew that whatever exchange that transpired would be uncomfortable. We aren't people to look for flaws at restaurants. We generally give places the benefit of the doubt. But my water had a hair in it, my silverware had a large chunk of food stuck to it, my beer was brought to me room-temperature rather than cold, my salad was brought with dressing (even though I'd asked for it with dressing on the side) and had to be re-made, my fiance's soup was brought out at the same time as his meal even though he'd asked for it in advance of his meal, and the sides he was given were incorrect- they actually gave him salmon with a side of mashed potatoes and a baked potato. Two potatoes- seriously? So that had to be sent back too. We left the restaurant having not enjoyed the meal even a little bit. But the food poisoning that struck my fiance several hours after we got home ensured we weren't going to be able to forget this meal for a long time. (My guess is perhaps the salmon?) He has been miserable ever since dinner last night. If you value your health, avoid this restaurant like the plague.
(1)
Matthew P.
This was my first time visiting this restaurant. I was a little skeptical at first since it was attached to a Hampton Inn. I sat at the bar and the service was good. The bartenders were very helpful and attentive. I order the crab cakes for an appetizer. It wasn't great but definitely not bad. I also ordered the jambalaya for my main meal. I'm a big jambalaya fan and order it often during my travels. This jambalaya was really good. I'm a fan and would order it again. Overall I think this is good place to eat and reasonably priced. I will be back next time I travel to the area.
(4)
Ashley C.
I was expecting a burger joint when I walked in, but it's definitely more business professional.... The food is delicious and the restaurant is seriously clean. I have to say the chicken pot pie is awesome!! Fluffy crust, creamy gravy... yum! The prices are high end but so is the food.
(4)
Angela L.
I read the other reviews and have to echo several things. I ordered a steak - told them they could do the NY strip or the ribeye, whichever the kitchen thought was a better piece of meat. What I got was pretty grisly, especially for $26. I skipped the potato (I'm watching carbs) and asked for the ONE green vegetable on the menu, the sauteed spinach, of which I got maybe three bites worth. Had to ask for silverware... got a fork with serious crust on the handle. Agree that this restaurant has had better days - did not know about new owner. This area needs a good American/grill fare restaurant. I was on my way to Wayland - sure wish I had held out for the Coach Grill down there.
(2)
Ralph G.
I Always have a good meal and the staff is always pleasent
(4)
Charlotte M.
Came here on Mother's Day. There was a 3 hour wait! So my brother and I sat in the section near the bar where you can seat yourself. It took about 10 minutes for anyone to bring us menus. Granted it was Mother's Day, but it was quite a while. Service was a little short with us, you could tell she was very busy. My primavera pasta came out with shrimp on it, I didn't order it that way, she took it back right away and the correct pasta came out pretty quickly, and the cook brought it over himself and apologized. That was nice! They are no longer carrying the Strawberry Shortcake, I was pretty sad to hear about this. One comment in relation to another patron. One of my biggest pet peeves, people who invite themselves to sit at dirty tables. An older couple sat at a table that had recently been vacated. It still had plates, glasses, silverware, and napkins on it. There were 2 other clean tables available they could have sat at. They then beckoned the server over to come and clean the table off, and were frustrated when she didn't hear them because she was taking another table's order. DON'T sit at dirty tables people! It's gross and demeaning when someone has to bus, clean, and set a dirty table you decided to sit at.
(3)
Mike B.
Stopped in for dessert since we were staying at the Hampton Inn attached to it. The stuff we got wasn't fantastic, but it was ok.
(3)
Heather R.
The bar staff is the best here! I literally only go for the prime rib, great deal and they are very good at cooking it to my liking, rare. Which is difficult on prime rib. It is a weekly spot for me, but I am moving soon and I will definitely miss the bar staff!
(4)
Maggie G.
VERY impressed with the friendly and attentive bartender, Ian. Finding myself making Joe's my new favorite stop because of the welcoming that I receive. I'd had a list in my head of five things a server/bartender would have to do to really impress me - and he nailed all five. Love that! Each time I've been in the food's been great and the drinks better! Looking forward to my next visit!
(5)
Tank T.
Food is hit or miss, was there once, was very good, went again on Friday the 30th of Nov, 2012, and was meh. Drink order for 4 guys, one beer flat, diet soda with lime, no lime. Never got water for one after ordering, and reminder. Food was ok, very skimpy on fries with the Chicken Club. Servers seem to congregate at a central location, chatting and checking phones. Servers when not at the central terminals, walk quickly by, and avoid your looks, hand up, and saying "excuse me". Doubtful will go back.
(2)
Jenn T.
Disgusting... Food was not good, mac n cheese was bland, London broil was horrifying. It was a weird purple color and looked like entrails you would feed an animal. I will definitely never go back to a Joes
(1)
Susan R.
I have NO IDEA why this has only three stars. This place is AWESOME. We went for dinner Saturday night and I have nothing but AMAZING things to say. The service was excellent, the food was good - I'd say 4 stars for the food but honestly the service blew it out of the park. I've been to classy, 5 star, black tie restaurants in NYC that didn't have service this good. We got there early - it was like, 5 or 6 - and the place was pretty empty. They have a big wine list for a burger joint and had a recommended wine they poured us samples of and everything. Okay, so, I have celiac's, so I'm terribly sick if I eat bread, right? So first of all, they have gluten free buns for their burgers (awesome!). And everything is made from scratch, so not only is the food delicious, but you don't have to worry about any cross contamination or anything and also you know the food is fresh!! So the gluten free buns, they're obviously not quite bun shaped, they look kind of like pancakes, they're flat, but damn if they aren't gluten free (rice flour ftw!) bread buns to put on my burger, I am super happy. And the sweet potato fries were AWESOME. And my friend who got a regular burger said his was good too. And the portions were huge; I could only eat half the burger and had to take the rest home. So it was $15 for a burger and a huge thing of sweet potato fries, but I got two meals out of it because it was so big. So the AWESOME PART - So you know, it's a normal restaurant, they give you bread when you sit down. So they bring the bread and my friend eats it (and says it's delicious btw), and our waitress - her name was Sam I think? sweet dark haired chick - came over to take our order and noticed I wasn't eating the bread and was like, "Oh you don't like the bread?" And I told her I had celiac's, and she was like, oh! Hold on just a second. And about 10 minutes later the chef came out and handed me a basket which had gluten free bread, that were delicious, with the butter on the side and everything, just like a normal bread basket normal people get. This has never happened to me before; it was so super cool. And the manager came over when the food came to say that she had watched them make my burger and assured me that there was not even a crumb of gluten near it. And she came back twice during the meal to make sure that everything was okay. So super cool. The place is clean, everyone is friendly, and they are so accommodating about allergies it's ridiculous. We're def going back.
(5)
Scott J.
I had lunch here with a few friends on a Wednesday in the middle of the week between Xmas and New Year's and I was extremely disappointed. I was really looking forward to the Cobb Salad, one of my recent favorites everywhere else. Unfortunately, the waste of a crispy shell holding the salad was stale and, rather than use full pieces of lettuce, it contained only shredded lettuce. That doesn't work in a salad. Also, what's a cobb salad without larger pieces of bacon -- and there was no egg, either. Just tons of shredded lettuce and black olives, along with three measly strips of avocado. No thank you and I'm still hungry. I'd only go back because it's convenient for friends who have a baby.
(2)
David K.
Loved it! We were tired after a long car ride, and just picked this because it was close to our hotel. What a find! Excellent service and awesome food!
(5)
Jay H.
I was a bit skeptical after reading the reviews but knowing that negatives will get posted much more quickly and frequently than positives, I decided to check it out (especially since I can take the elevator home - staying at the attached Hampton Inn). Boy, am I glad I did! The food was good (not great) but the staff was fantastic!! I sat in the bar area and everyone that I encountered was really polite, attentive and nice. I ate a good meal (Minestrone and a very good Ahi Tuna Salad) and had a couple of beers and didn't even sit at the bar. One of the bartenders asked my name as I paid and thanked me for being there. Today I thought about heading into North End for Italian and pubs but didn't feel like dealing with the traffic and drive since I leave tomorrow and will be back in the area at least 3 times this year. So, I returned to Joe's. Sitting at a table in the bar area, I ordered a drink and dinner. When the bartender from the night before, Holly, brought my calamari out (not the greatest but good), she greeted me by name! Less than 30 seconds of interaction the night before among a number of bar patrons (VERY crowded, especially for its location) and she remembered my name. Fantastic!! We chatted a bit and I was so impressed by Holly! All of the other wait/bartending staff that I talked to (mostly Lisa and Diane) were also very nice and paid a lot of attention to me as a customer. I can say that this is a place I will return to and that I can highly recommend BECAUSE of the staff, especially Holly (since I'm in the Boston area it may be "Harley", okay, it's not but it could be - c'mon, sound it out)! For the rating, the food gets a 4 (calamari could be more tender but it does have good flavor; fresh chilis instead of pickled would be even better) but the staff get a 6 (Holly a 7!!)!
(5)
Heather C.
Food is great at this location, but the service is only so, so. The wait staff can be aggressive about suggesting that you start with soup or salad, but then seem to disappear during the meal when you might need a refill or something.
(3)
Alex D.
I just went here and have no idea why this place has anything less than 5 stars. The burger was excellent, the service was awesome (our server was Sam who was super nice), and the gluten free options are super good. Best of all? The price wasn't above other good bars. Strongly recommend!
(5)
Kell B.
Usually I frequent other Joes american but on this occasion i was near the city and we decided to try this one. Over the past year everything at all the Joes seems to have gone down in quality. Our experience here was a nightmare, we choose to just laugh about it, because really there was nothing else we could do. We sat in bar area at the tables during lunch. Our waitress had a few other tables. Not to many, but was very confused the entire time. Bringing us random drinks, never really being accessible. The food was all decent, but the food used to be so much better here before. The bread is still amazing. To top everything off our waitress gave us the wrong bill. Thankfully we saw this because It wasn't worth the money we paid let alone a higher check! No plans of returning to this location and honestly probably any of the other locations. Things have just gone to far downhill.
(1)
Kenji G.
your chili has been epic lately. Nice work.
(4)
Mike R.
Went here for lunch today. It seems that they they just redesigned their menu. In all honesty, I like their old menu was better. It seems that they have taken away some of the little things. But the old tried and true items are still good. Maybe, they are a bit smaller but still good. I have gotten the Buffalo chicken wrap and I didn't like it at all. it had way too much blue cheese dressing. This time around I got the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with chili. The chicken was tender, the chili was good. Great item and it was a reasonable price at $12.50. (the chili was an extra $1.5 but if you get it on the side, they give you a mini bowl of it, which seems like a great value) My wife got the french dip. It was great, My two complaints are that they only give you a thin layer of meat and it is a bit expensive at $14. Before they re-designed the menu they gave you a-lot more meat. Service is a little hit and miss. This time around was good. Although there were times in the past when it wasn't. Ever since they re-launced the menu, it seems that they have taken away the little things. They don't give you bread while you wait for your meal anymore. And worst of all, during sunday brunch, they would give you little muffins to have with your coffee, while you waited for your food. Well, those muffins are now gone... or at least they were a couple of months ago. Ever since they eliminated the muffins, we stopped going there for brunch. All and all, the food is good but you just have to know what to order. Or better yet, what not to order.
(3)
Kevin T.
Nice place to come watch the game. Reminds me a lot of a Ruby Tuesday. Little costly, but good food in the end.
(3)
Rob F.
I go to this place religiously. Since I moved here (summer 2010) I've had nothing but good experiences so now I'm a regular. The food is very good and the drink prices are average. The bar staff is friendly and quick. The restaurant is tied to a hotel but it's definitely not a "hotel restaurant". I do see a lot of locals there so it's not all hotel guests. Some days it's packed, others not so much. If you're with a date, it's comfortable. If you're alone, sit at the bar and visit Ian, Trish, or Mike. They'll take good care of you.
This was my first visit to this restaurant, in company with four friends. I had no idea what to expect never having eaten at any restaurant in the franchise. However based on this experience I will not be eating at any Joe's in the future! It was nothing short of terrible! I found the wait staff to be rude and unhelpful. As a previous reviewer mentioned the staff were AWOL, clustered around their desk having a great old time. Our waitress did break away a couple of times to see if she could push some more drinks but that was about the extent of her interest. We ordered the crabcakes and nachos for an appetizer. The waiter didn't inform us that the "crabcakes" consisted of a single cake obviously from a bulemic crab. There was much hilarity between my friends and I as we tried to figure out how to divide up the creature. We ended up with 1/2 forkful each. The nachos were something else. A small mound of nacho chips welded together somehow with a dried substance which at one time might have been cheese. There was a small demitasse of sauce on the side. Anyone trying to serve themselves from the heap move the entire pile off the plate in one piece. A jackhammer might have helped dislodge a piece or two. Ever the optimist I ordered the sirloin steak tips ($17.99) medium well. They were one notch north of rare when they arrived and provided a good half hour of chewing entertainment before they could be swallowed. The gravy, what there was of it, tasted like it came out of a Lipton foil packet. One friend order the Marguerite Pizza which barely covered the middle of a standard dinner plate. The poor guy starred at his plate in disbelief when it arrived - even at $10 it was a ripoff. We would have gotten more enjoyment from Panera's across the street for a LOT less than the $40 apiece this joint bilked us for. Never again!
(1)
scott j.
You know the old saying, dont fix what isnt broken. That shouldve been the motto for this place before they sold it. They have been under new management for about a year I believe and every time has been worst than the time before. I work about 1/4 mile away so I like to add this in to my weekly lunch routine. Well after going here 1-2 times a week over the past 3 years I have become accustomed to certain things and have even taken some of the changes in stride since I liked it so much, but not anymore... The new menu has been launched which is similar to before however it seems as if EVERY dish went UP and price and went DOWN in size, not a good combination. Our server only came over to smile one time and that was coincidentally as she gave us the bill. Without getting into compainting about each individual dish and what was wrong with it I can tell you that in our party of 4 all 4 of us had left unhappy and unsure about our next return. This is tough to say and have not wanted to write this for a while since as I mentioned this place is my favorite and has my favorite meal but between the service, the price increase, and the quantity of food going down I do not think we will be rushing back. One thing that restaurants like this do way to often is they get to cocky and believe that what they have is better than what it is and I feel that is exactly what happened here. If you want to be considered more upscale and charge higher prices, than you should atleast leave your customers feeling satisfied with the meal and experience and that we were not.
(1)
Aniela L.
As my roommate said tonight, "it's one of those places that could be on Kitchen Nightmares!" This restaurant was not at all what I expected. I fully expected a TGI Friday's-type restaurant as far as atmosphere, but was sadly disappointed to find a dark, boring atmosphere. Definitely not a place for the 20-something crowd, or for those of us pushing 30+. More like a place my grandparents might enjoy. Our waitress was attentive, and overall service was good. Food on the other hand was not so great. Our fried mozzarella came out of the kitchen completely burnt, and entrees were not much better. Perhaps this is a place to go if you already know one or two really good things on the menu, but if you're looking to stop in as a newcomer, you're better off going down the street to one of the other restaurants.
(2)
Steve L.
Had an all-day meeting, so 8 of us wanted to go out for dinner. Too tired to drive into Boston, we decided to meet here at Joe's American. There's about 14 of these restauarants in MA, CT, NJ, and RI. Basically, they serve, well, American food. You know, burgers, steaks, fish, pizza, ribs..... First order of business was a beer, so I ordered a seasonal Sam Adam's Oktoberfest. The pint came promptly, and I continued to scan the menu. Started out with a cup of New England clam chowder. Good start, nice chunks of clams. These clams were very fresh, tender, not chewy. Soup was thick, but not goopy, and a nice little buttery taste. For entree, I had the sirloin steak tips. These were 8-9 chunks of steak tips, grilled to order, and came with a little carafe of mushroom gravy, onion rings, and mash potatoes. Steak tips were grilled medium rare as requested, very tender, and very tasty. Don't know what was with my table-mates, but they didn't want dessert. That didn't stop me, so I ordered a Charles River Pie. Didn't know what to expect, but when it arrived, my eyes opened up, as well as my table-mates. This was about a 5-inch high coffee ice cream pie, topped with fudge, whipped cream, and almonds, on a chocolate cookie crust. Sooooo gooood! With a hot cup of coffee, I had no problem finishing it. No complaints about the service. They were attentive, and all of the waitstaff worked together to serve all of their customers.
(4)
V M.
Came here for dinner and we had a pleasant dining experience. I had their turkey burger with sweet potato fries. It was yummy. My sister had asked for the angel hair pasta with no cheese. The waitress said it came with cheese (even though the menu said otherwise). She wrote down, "No cheese." Well, we got the pasta and there was some cheese in it. I tried some even though it looked like tiny chopped up garlic. It was definitely cheese. We sent it back stating there was cheese in it and the waitress kinda tried arguing saying there wasn't any. She took it back and gave us another, this time without cheese. She apologized and I told her that it was because she was allergic. The waitress then tells us, after the fact, that if it was a food allergy that they have a totally different procedure for that. It was kind of a waste telling us that then. You should have the same procedure, allergy or not, when someone tells you they don't want a certain something in their entree. I'd go to other places to eat if I visited Boston again. The food was decent but the whole "food allergy" procedure that the restaurant had was totally absurd and a complete turn off.
(2)
David A.
I can't give this place more than 3 stars. The food was average, service was competent but not blown away in any way. For a place called "American Joe's" I have to agree with prior reviews that it's def not the place to watch any games. Sporadic TV's spread around a small area with little to no sound on a packed evening. Drink selection was okay, entree's were... average. I wish I could be more in depth, but this place was just a solid 3. Not bad, but nothing to write a great review about.
(3)
Kate R.
I went on a Sat a few hours after lunch so I can't say much to how crowded it gets during peak hours. There was hardly anyone there when I went. It's a bit weird as the parking lot for it is behind a hotel. Food was decent. I ordered Fish & Chips. The fried fish part was excellent. 'Chips' (american chips, ie French Fries) not so much. They were a bit on the greasy and overcooked side. The servers were nice but a bit slow at orders, refills, and such.
(3)
Warren C.
Terrible. For appetizer we had loaded nachos, but they were very skimpy on the cheese. My blackened burger was terrible. Service was slow and unfriendly. I would not return.
(1)
Mike N.
The food is nothing to write home about, but it's not bad. I had a thoroughly so-so burger. Won't go back unless I'm starving
(3)
Miss M.
Years ago, I used to love coming here, but in recent years--unfortunately it seems to have gone from, a classy american look to more of a cold corner pub feel, where the floors were most likely cleaned with a dirty mop. It's really sad. It looks run down now. The food was a HUGE disappointment. The meat and fish weren't as fresh. I started with an ahi tuna appetizer that was straight up strange. Even a side of french fries tasted like they were dipped in some sort of detergent. The french onion soup wasn't bad, but it's not hard to make. The ribs appetizer was okay, not much meat to it. But all in all, for the quality and quantity of the food--it's WAY over priced. I would have understood if the food was fresher, and like it was years ago. It's a pity, I feel as though management or the corps have just not given a care, or just think they are up to par. Well I disagree. So, all in all, I'd go to Uno's for a better experience, for half the price. I am sad that it's gone down hill. But paying 65 dollars for: mediocre-bad lunch fish and chips, a cup of soup and a few short ribs, three sodas...doesn't make sense to me. Plus we had a strange waiter. But...I wouldn't be passionate if I worked there either.
(2)
Alex M.
Had the Mac & Cheese with Parmesan bread crumbs, with a glass of orange juice (freshly squeezed!) about half an hour ago. Best thing I've ever had. Loved my waitress too. Great prices and hope to be back here again!
(5)
John E.
At ~$20 The steak tips and mash was good, and the bartender was great
(3)
Joe D.
Love this place! I never pass up the opportunity have dinner & drinks at Joe's. Great food, and exceptional service.
(4)
Paul B.
I'd have to agree with the recent reviews that Joe's seems to be slipping. It seems that the quality has decreased as the chain continues to grow. I've eaten here a couple times in the last 6 months and it's been satisfying to a degree but it seems more in line with TGI Fridays than the more upscale restaurant and bar that it appears to be. My last 2 orders were steaks and both have been over cooked. Ironically there is a chart on the menu describing what each category of wellness means but it does not coincide with what actually comes from the kitchen. I ordered my steak medium the first time and got it well done. Thinking I would be smarter the second time I ordered it medium rare and ended up with medium-well (very little pink). There is a great drink menu but it seemed that the drinks were weak. I do have to say that the staff is always great and I enjoyed not being rushed out after dinner so that we could have a couple drinks and hang out.
(2)
Steve F.
I'm a big fan of this place. Let me first start out telling you that their bread and butter might just be the best around. If you like Chili this also is a must try. My favorite entree is the chicken picata, if you like this dish you must order this.
(4)
Jack M.
Remember when this was JC Hillary's? Loved it then. Not much has changed - decor is the exact same. Food is too. Waitstaff is a crapshoot - but - well, it's an "American" Bar & Grill, so that goes with the terrirory. I am never blown away by the food here - I just like drinking here. The pasta dish with all the vegetables is pretty good. Chicken Pot Pie is decent too. Go if you're sick of all the crummy mexican places nearby....
(4)
John F.
Had a business lunch there and was totally unimpressed. The lettuce in my salad was clearly old and wilted, and the water was luke warm. They could at least put ice in their water pitchers.
(1)
Carolyn P.
I went to Joe's with a girlfriend who'd never been before. I should of had her drive further up the road to the one in Peabody. The service was crappy at best, the waiter seems to never notice us. My spinach had so much salt on it, it truly was inedible. When I asked for a new vegetable, it took 15 minutes to get broccoli. How tough is it to cook? The whole night was a bomb..
(2)
Justin B.
Gave it one more chance. Got a Burger. It tasted like it had been marinated, basted, and then slathered with kerosene. I could not eat it. My dinner companion got a chicken club but they forgot to put bacon on it. The waitress was not concerned that neither of us really even touched our food. The fries were good. The margaritas were good as well. I am still dropping it down to one star though.
(1)
Sory D.
Loved, that's my new " lunch point" food is good, drinks too and the sevice Gosh I have no words to explain: how polite and efficient " Ian Butters " (the bartender ) is, he knows everyone and he treats everybody like an old friend. Yes I'm coming back weekly
(4)
Marc H.
I've been here once and that was about it for me. Why? Well, I ordered a burger and fries, and the burger was so-so, but it was the fries--they tasted really funny. I ate a few and stopped, thinking that there was something wrong with them. Well, I got sick that night and was unable to eat much of anything for nearly a week. I could have written this off as a one-time thing, but I just have no desire to go back there again.
(1)
Jonathan K.
What can I say, it's Joe's. I've had good service and bad service. My son being 2.5 loves coloring and the chicken tenders...for a hangout with a few drinks it's okay...Personally I'm not much of a chain restaurant person, I prefer the atmosphere of smaller pubs and local restaurants...
(3)
C.M. M.
Thirty dollars for a glass of wine and an individual margharita pizza - well, sort of - their version is flatbread with tomato sauce (read - NO Tomatoes) and a half a pound of cheap cheese melted with DRIED basil sort of sprinkled on the middle. The menu read "tomatos, mozzarella, and fresh basil" - blech! Horrid! And expensive to boot! Not a place I return to...
(1)
Christie L.
WOW. That's all I can say! We went here on a Thursday night and it was packed. The staff was super friendly and it seemed way more classy than I anticipated. The name led me to believe it was more of a diner type place, boy was I wrong! I ordered the sirloin tips that came with carmelized onions, mashed potatoes, and gravy. I honestly can see why some people might think the place is just so so based on this dish. Every bite I thought...I've had better. BUT, I had started with the clam chowder, very thick and full of clams. It was the best chowder that we've had in the area so far! Their bread is also very good. And the real winner was my bf's dish. It was sooo good that it would make me give 5 stars literally no matter what I ate. There was a prime rib special (normally only served Fri and Sat) and he ordered the 24oz. It was cooked perfectly and was so juicy and flavorful. Neither of us could think of any prime rib we'd had that was better than this prime rib. I highly recommend it!!!! We'll definitely be back!!!
(5)
Mike S.
To the (hot) bartender who barely said hello to me and didn't bother asking me if I wanted to order from the menu that I had to practicly beg her for: EAT ME!!! I liked this place when it began, but now this place is like a McDonalds, only the staff aren't as nice and the prices are twenty times as high. I shall NEVER return - NEVER!!!!
(1)
michael m.
I've only ever been here for lunch. It is very crowded and busy (with all the offices and what-not in close proximity). The food is okay, standard American fare -- burgers, sandwiches, seafood, but nothing worth writing home about. Service is the best part -- the wait staff is very good. I used to work right up the street, and we nicknamed the place "Average Joe's", because there is nothing unique about this place.
(3)
Julia F.
I like it. Slightly expensive, but I have only had good experiences here. I like the food, and often the bar isn't that crowded and the bartenders were nice all times I went. I will go back, one of these days. I took some time to think back, and this was the first in a VERY long line of bars I went to for the pub crawl on my 21st birthday, so no wonder my memory of it was a little foggy... Perhaps I should go back, not necessarily to repeat that ludicrous night, just to check it out again...
(4)
Carrie M.
After having a great experience at the Joe's in Natick, my boyfriend and I decided to grab a quick dinner at this location. We were seated promptly, shared an appetizer and both order an entree. The food took forever to come and the waitress was slow, with no personality. She spent most of our visit chatting with the host in the kitchen( we could see from our seat). We were able to leave once another waiter noticed our waitress hadnt been there in a while and wrapped up our leftovers and brought the check. Food was average.. During previous visits we had noticed that Joe's serves brunch. Sunday morning we gathered up a few friends and headed that way, excited for the complimentary cocktails with an entree purchase. We were sat quickly again and ordered our cocktails. Our waitress return to let us know that Mass Liquor laws didn't allow them to serve us. OK. So we ordered juice and coffee(which was disgusting and over priced). The food was pretty bad. Nothing to write home about. Waitress was not bad this time.. slow though. All in all I don't recommend this Joe's...
(1)
Dan M.
The clam chowder in a bread bowl was wonderful. Crab cakes were pretty good as well. The place was packed and the service was fair. Not bad at all for a chain.
(4)
Christine S.
The chili. Yup that's what I would recommend. I know, not what you would first think when you head to a restaurant with all the offerings Joe's has but really, this homemade, chunky and spicy chili is excellent. Especially with the bread they serve. A nice cold draft beer and truly you'll be all set. Of course you can venture into other items on the menu. All standard fare there in my opinion and a bit too pricy for what you get. Place gets the business crowd. Some fun people watching can occur at the bar.
(3)
Ron L.
Great burgers and fries, just wish they gave you more fries. The buns they use for the burgers are tasty too. Used to go there every Friday for a burger and couple of Sam Adam's drafts for lunch. Waitstaff got to know my friend and I fairly quick (we eat next to the bar) so when they saw us coming from the parking lot, our beers were already waiting for us on the bar when we walked in...this after only three or four vists. Nicely done. They definitely have better food than the usual chain restaurants like Ninety-Nine or Applebee's.
(4)
Lisa C.
I am completely basing this review on one visit a few months back: Myself and two friends decided to try the brunch..us all being huge fans. We were all especially happy about the booze that's included in the price! It was about 11:00am when we arrived. Our server was nice, brought us all coffee and started to take our orders. Myself and one of my friends ordered the eggs Benedict, and my other friend got a fresh fruit cup and hash browns. When we asked for our mimosas, we were denied. What the hell!!!!!! You do NOT screw around with booze. Especially when it comes to us three. So when we asked why we couldn't have the drinks, they responded with "we can't serve liquor until 12:00pm on Sundays". Ok. Totally understandable. I'll get back to this later... About the meal... Eggs benedict was so-so. It tasted like the hollandaise was sitting under a heat lamp for an hour. The poached eggs were great though. When we got our bill, all three of us were surprised that we had been charged full price for our coffees. I know it doesn't seem like a huge deal, but we paid for booze, didn't get it - so we got coffee instead. No big deal, right? Wrong. We asked our server to take off the price of the coffees (about $5) hoooly shit. She went into the kitchen area (which was right behind us) and told her manager the entire story. We heard everything, which is ANNOYING. We don't need to hear the entire conversation. It's unprofessional and RUDE. So the manager comes over and explains that it's not his fault that we can't have booze. Ok, we were over the booze, just comp my coffee so we can get outta this place. He made a mountain out of a mole-hill and my friend put him in his place!!! He was being completely ridiculous, REFUSING to comp us for the price of the coffee when we paid MORE for a drink we couldn't have. WTF!? In the end, he ended up comping my friends entire meal, which was WAY more than we had expected, what an idiot! I won't go back here.
(3)
Brian B.
Overall, mid level average food quality. Nothing I had was super wow nor was it bad in any way either. I had a pretty decent cheeseburger with the fried mozzerella appetizer. Also had a cup of the clam chowder. Everything was pretty good and so was the service. I would not go out of my way to eat here but it's very convenient if you are staying at the Hampton Inn which is connected to it.
(3)
Busy L.
Big disappointment. Quality and service went downhill. Service was horrible and food was subpar. Crabcakes were fishy. Steak with melted cheddar was lacking flavor and tasted like the steak was soaked in a brine. S&S cheesecake was the only highlight.
(1)
Lyndsay B.
While expensive, Joe's food is pretty good. The (lunch) service here is quick and efficient (just what you want at lunch). Call ahead if you're planning for a large group, otherwise getting a table can be a bit difficult.
(4)
Jessica B.
It's not listed, but Joe's in Natick is the best! Steve the manager is awesome, he really knows how to take care of people. And the grande nachos are to die for!
(5)
Mike T.
service was horrible and the food was cold and there was no one in the place i would not go here again
(1)
John R.
Not the very good pretty much all the Joe's are the same and all not the best, I have tried the Woburn location out several times now and was never even close to being impressed with the food but again none of the Joe's are in my top picks for steak/food. The service was OK staff was hit or miss, some were friendly at times other were not but they are not the reason fo only two stars. The food mediocre at best the steaks are just not very tastey not sure if it's the way they cook them or just low quality meat. Every time I have visited the place only had a handful of customers, maybe my timing was off but IMO if this is the norm for the place I can't believe they make enough money to keep the doors open. The two Joe's in Boston seem to attract a bigger crowd but I am sure they are more tourists than actual Boston residents. I wouldn't recommend going to Joe's there is plenty out there that are much better.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Matthew A.
Went here recently for a business lunch. Service was really attentive- almost too much so. Had iced tea- very good! Started with soups - both were fine. Not remarkable, but decent. Both had salads. I had the house Caesar with steak. The steak was a flank cut. Very small portion maybe 2 oz at the most. Over cooked and not at all flavorful. Nice space & atmosphere. Was super busy on a Wednesday at 12:30 but when we left an hour later is was really quiet. So big lunch place.
(3)Andrew P.
Look, I probably would not have chosen this place but it was a convenient meeting place at the time. Woops. What a mistake, this was literally my worst dining experience in ages. I had been here about six months ago, sat in the bar and had an ok to slightly above ok experience. Last night, this couldn't have been further from the case. The waitress was clearly new, but like way too new to be on her own. The service was INCREDIBLY slow. Like next level I would rather just drink water from the hose outside slow. It took 15 mins to get drinks, the table next to me was sat and then left before the server got there. The next table that sat complained and had managers deliver their food for the rest of the night and the table to my left complained with us about how bad the service was. You would think that if a table was complaining about service, the management might take a look at the other tables that the server is covering. The food was just ok. For a $16 burger, there are plenty of other places I would rather go but honestly I am sure that the bad taste was much more reflective of the service. I have no problem having a one star experience when I walk into a chain, I half expect it. At a place like this you shouldn't have that happen. I do not recommend for anyone, won't be recommending to anyone and definitely will not be going back. Good luck if you are still considering.
(1)Lizzie B.
It was fine, I guess. There is something inherently depressing about spending Thanksgiving at a chain restaurant, but alas, this is what my Grandmother wanted. We had a 12 p.m. reservation for 11 people. We were seated promptly, and were the only people in the entire restaurant for at least an hour. They had at least 15 servers on staff, yet somehow two people had to ask for silverware, and I waited over 20 minutes for my first glass of wine. Staff were nice - just seemed like they were a bit out to lunch. I can't really blame them - I wouldn't be chomping at the bit to work on a major holiday either. Food was passable. For $25 you get all you can eat turkey dinner which includes - white turkey breast (no skin), mashed potatoes, squash, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy. You could also order the scallop risotto ($25) which was not all you can eat. I ordered the latter and was pretty satisfied. The risotto was creamy and included a lot of veggies - carrots, spinach, some other greens - and unfortunately, what appeared to be canned mushrooms. It came with 5 scallops - three bigger sized ones, and two tiny ones. I didn't try the turkey dinner but my Uncle Michael said "it tasted like an entire weeks worth of sodium" Most people at the table echoed this sentiment. On the plus side - Joe's sends home with every turkey order - a completely new, whole plate of turkey - free of charge. General Notes: Water glasses were not refilled often enough. Music was weird - top 40 (Fitz and the Tantrums, random hip-hop) AND Micheal Buble? Joe's really needs to settle with a themed play list. None of this music really fit the holiday mood nor the clientele. TIP: When the average age of the patrons is 65 - don't play Britney Spears. Complimentary bread was a bit stale, but I appreciated the soft, whipped butter. Beer was served with chilled mugs - well played! I had to ask for a drink list - that was annoying. Especially with a large party - wanting to get down and be festive - it's in your best interest to push us towards the booze. Most people in my party just randomly shouted out domestic beers, and hoped Joe's had them. My Irish Coffee was weak - not weak in booze, but rather served with weak coffee. I'm also pretty sure they used skim milk rather than cream. We were led to believe Joe's only offered one desert - the pumpkin cheese cake. After half of us already ordered. my Aunt Lynette found out that we could order any desert on the regular menu. Too bad a regular menu was never provided. When prompted - the waitress orally informed us of the other options. Pumpkin cheese cake was amazing! By far the best thing I ate - creamy and light, with homemade whip cream -YUM! I also loved my Aunt Lynette's salted caramel cheese cake. It tasted exactly like Goetz's Caramel creams. Decor was nice. Large, clean bathrooms, nice dark wood paneling dining room.. comfortable chairs. All and all - it was an ok experience, but I'm not rushing to go back. It's nice not to have to deal with cooking and cleaning the house - but the experience just felt stale and anemic. I was also expecting higher quality food and service from a restaurant owned by Atlantic Fish Company and Abe and Louie's. 2.5 stars.
(3)N F.
They no longer serve prime rib, but there are a few other options.
(3)doug r.
I chose to sit in the dining room as I wanted something a tad quieter than the noisy bar area. But karma seated a couple with a noisy two year-old behind me. Silly parents thought they could reason with a two year-old. Why did I chose Joe's? It was convenient (behind) my hotel and they offer a 10% discount to hotel guests. I was not in the mood to engage Woburn's traffic. I arrived ~6:20PM and was seated immediately. Bar area was quite busy/noisy. Dining room, not so much. Sabrina was my server. Attentive, hustles, knows the menu, hustles ... and got everything right the first time. She should be working somewhere more upscale - bigger checks should equal bigger tips. I opt'd for their $25 prix fixe menu. The three shrimp appetizer, seafood stew entree (mussels, salmon & a very petite lobster tail in an unremarkable sauce) and a bread pudding w/ice cream dessert. It was satisfactory, but did not delight. Would I order this combo again? No. Will I return? Possibly. After long days, I'm really not in the mood to travel for food. WiFi network is insecure. A business computer/server is on the same subnet that customers access. Baaad juju. One star for the guest-WiFi network. Three stars for the food. Five stars for Sabrina.
(3)Damien S.
For all the polish and crisp collars on the staff, I'm a bit surprised as to how sloppy the actual food is at this regional chain's locale. My turkey burger ($14) came on a "buttered"-greasy whole wheat bun with what seemed like sliced bleu cheese and a side of bland guac. The sauteed spinach requested in lieu of the standard fries featured limp, ashy leaves swimming in oily base. I can see the inherent appeal to Joe's, especially if you're a road warrior salesfolk who wants to close your clients over a seemingly high-end lunch. Bring the heavy pen, order the seared ahi tuna salad and bask in commissions and bottomless iced teas. But for a pair of hangry kids who just wanted a solid burger, Joe's limped to the rescue. I'm in no rush to head back.
(2)Greg L.
Went here with some vendors for dinner one evening and enjoyed some delicious Nachos for an appetizer and went with their meatloaf for dinner, which was a recommendation from a coworker. The nachos were really good and quite large and was easily shareable between the 5 of us in our party. You also get complimentary bread, which was good. I couldn't believe how large my meatloaf dinner plate was. I basically got two large pieces of meatloaf over mashed potatoes and braised red cabbage on the side. A delicious meal, but way too much for me to eat! All in all, a good place to go with fast and friendly service. Would definitely come back here again next time I'm in the area.
(3)Mark R.
I know better than to trust this restaurant chain for providing the same meal described on the menu to me. Today I ordered a Kale and Quinoa Salad. What I got was 25% Kale and 75% iceberg lettuce, a teaspoon of quinoa, and a pinch of sliced almonds. Give me a break! A $5 salad for $19 and that does include the meals tax and a 20% gratuity. Folks stay away from this place. The Kale and Quinoa Salad at the Cheesecake Factory in Burlington is fantastic.
(1)Lisa P.
I was very disappointed when we arrived here and we're waiting quite some time for drinks and our orders to be taken. There were hitches here and there / apparently they are under new management and "lots is changing" Apparently changes not for the better - have you ever heard of a place that doesn't have house wines? Absurd! One of us had to order a $10 glass of wine not even filled to the correct level / more like "wine tasting" Their food supposedly has had a huge change since the new management - there were unpleasant sauces for my meal (much to be desired with their ranch) It was awful! On top of all of this, there was a child screaming her head of for a good portion of dinner. This was disrupting the entire dining area, it would have been nice if they would suggested a parent take her out of the room. And when we asked a staff about birthdays (because we'd taken two people out for their birthday) they replied with "we don't do that here" Needless to say, I really don't ever want to return here or any Joes.
(1)Nikki B.
Really love their new menu. You must try the Cajun Maple Bacon!!Service was quick and friendly. One thing that's really important to me is a clean bathroom, and they had a clean one. I had the brunch eggs Benedict with crab cakes and hollandaise sauce. Excellent!
(4)Josh F.
The bartenders here are all exquisite, and the selection in beers doesn't hurt. They recently revamped the menu and damn. A meatloaf that is made with rib meat??? Yeah, I'll get that every time.
(5)N F.
I travel to Woburn 4x a year and eat at this restaurant three or more times (lunches/dinners) during my trips. That is 12 or so times a year -- more than I eat at certain restaurants at my own home city. My favorite meal is, well, was, the seared Ahi Tuna salad. Tonight, after flying in from southern California, I stopped before even heading to my hotel,to pick up my favorite meal. But I was informed that the menu had been changed almost 2 weeks ago, and my salad was no longer on the menu. At 9:30 at night, I didn't have a lot of other options. The staff dutifully told me what a great "new" chicken salad is now on the menu, but I can get a perfectly acceptable chicken salad at -- oh -- at least four local restaurants come to mind. Instead I opted to get a dinner salad and tuna tartare. What a colossal disappointment. The dinner salad was unspectacular unless you count the overuse of sliced onions; and the dressing was absolutely tasteless. On top of that, not wanting to drown my entire salad in salt with the include soy sauce, I simply mixed the tartare into the dinner salad. The raw tuna and avocado must have been completely unseasoned; as the result was that the whole meal had NO flavor whatsoever. Guess I've had my last meal at American Joe's. Fortunately, there are a Not Your Average Joe's, Cheesecake Factory, Season's 52 and Paparazzi all very close by with excellent food. Best of luck to you with the new menu.
(1)Krista C.
Their burgers were delicious! Fries were good as well. I was impressed they had 60 minute on tap too. Very friendly staff as well. I would recommend this place over the other nearby chain restaurants.
(4)Rachel L.
They have recently changed their menu and went way up on their prices. Service is either hit or miss here. I used to do takeout a lot but after paying for overpriced salads that had brown wilted lettuce and my order being wrong numerous times, I stopped going. I decided today to try it since it's been a while. The sandwich I always used to order was $11 is now $15, how do you charge $4 more for a chicken sandwich? It's not a chicken club anymore, it's a small piece of grilled chicken on ciabata bread and fries. I'm far from cheap and have no problem paying for food that tastes good but this was not worth the money. Chicken was dry and slathered in some kind of flavored mayo. I won't be back anytime soon, not worth the cost.
(2)Fred S.
A bit overpriced but fantastic service and food. I'm a big fan of Crabcakes and wow! are they great. Very convenient location and lots of parking. A must-stop if you're in the area of the 93/95 intersection.
(4)Jeremiah D.
This place has an entrance that is more impressive than the food. The ambiance is that of almost high end. The food did not match. My friend ordered a steak and loaded potatoes. The steak he loved, but not for the $26 it cost. The loaded potatoes were not good he said. I had the sword fish special, as did my other friend. We did not like it at all. It lacked flavor. A piece of fish with melted butter...really? The claim chowder was actually very good. If I ever go back, it would be just for the chowder.
(3)TinoX T.
I'm a Fan for this Place and specially the one in NewBury St NIce Food,Clean
(4)Wm H.
Food was good, seems like a place the business men go for lunch. Hidden behind a hotel. I would return.
(4)Alex M.
It was alright but nothing special. I split the nachos and they were pretty good. I tried the Mac n cheese and opt'd to add lobster. The lobster added nothing to the dish so save your money. The service was what killed it for me though. Nice enough waitresses, but very apathetic. I doubt I'll be back.
(3)Elle G.
Had an unpleasant experience here last evening. Although the waiter was attentive with refills on our sodas, the food was terrible. We ordered the crab cakes appetizer and there was only one small crab cake. Since we were a couple, maybe the waiter could've indicated that there was only one when we were ordering. For main course we had the scallops risotto and the lobster mac n cheese. The scallops had a very odd flavor that I couldn't identify so I had my date try and he said the same thing. It was almost like a chemical flavor. The lobster mac n cheese was just ok. I am in no way a picky eater, I will eat almost anything. Very disappointed.
(1)Julie P.
The service, atmosphere, wine list (albeit a little over-priced) and are excellent! We made a reservation through Open Table and were sat right away even though there was a waiting line. If you are going to get the kale salad, make sure the waiter gives you the dressing it's meant to be served with, otherwise you end up with basically raisins and raw kale (apparently the dressing softens the kale to make it more tasty). I recommend Joes!
(4)Mahmoud E.
A company I was doing business with took me here for lunch. Nice atmosphere, abundant parking!! They serve complimentary bread which is just amazing! The best bread I ever had, I ordered a cup of clam chowder which was ok, not great, which means it's bad for Boston. Ordered the swordfish tips which was the special of the day, the swordfish was ok. Nothing special, my first time having swordfish so I found it to be slightly dry, a little too fishy, but in no way was it terrible just not preferred fish. The side rice and asparagus was perfect, the grilled lemon was a great accompaniment. Service was quick and attentive. Not a bad option for Woburn.
(3)Ken C.
I was staying a hotel in the area for business and I decided to take a walk over to Joe's rather then eat at the place right next door (Bad Yelp reviews on the food) The service here was fantastic. It may have been the best service I have ever gotten sitting at bar (with the exception of being a regular of course). The bartender Michael quickly introduced himself and his co-bartender Jessica. he brought me a beer and took my appetizer order immediately. The two of them worked together to make sure my drink was always full and my empty plates were removed right away. They were also very friendly and always called me by name which is always nice. OK, so onto the food. I started off with the New England clam chowder which was very good. They offered me cracked pepper to top it off which was a very nice touch. I had a caesar salad after and the salmon for the main course. My fear of ordering salmon in bars is that it will be overcooked, but not here. It was grilled perfectly. It could have been seasoned a little better, but nothing that a little lemon could not fix. I would much rather it be a little bland then dried out anyway. The spinach that it was cooked over was also very nice complement. All in all, I was very impressed with Joe's and I would definitely go back if I am in the area. The food was more gastro-pub then typical bar food and the service really impressed me. Cheers.
(4)Rachel E.
Just went here last week with my mum. Food is great. Service was good but our server was a bit over enthusiastic. He came by too often, interrupting our dinner. Beyond that it was a great time. My mom got the haddock special and I got the steak tips. Both were cooked well and tasted great.
(4)Manfred S.
Business lunch standard place. I think I have been here a few dozen times and this is place where I forget to check in with the Yelp App. It is always basic good American food, but it is just basic good American food. There is nothing really exciting to write about this place. I go. I eat. And hopefully someone else is picking up the tab. Safe and boring, but definitely A-OK.
(3)Paul L.
The food was very good, the waitstaff was efficient. It was a little pricey for a pub, but I would go back.
(4)Jay C.
I had a great experience the first time I went. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. I specially loved that they served their bread warm. The second time I went the bread wasn't was cold but otherwise it was still a great experience. What I love the most was all of their vegan options. I will definitely return.
(5)Sandra D.
This place turned into a way, way overpriced mediocre hotel food lobby restaurant. You know, the ones you go to at the hotel to grab a drink.....before or after you go out to eat. This place used to be my go to place for a great burger, great beer and great service. I had moved and hadn't been here in almost a year so when I was back in the area this was the first place I went. I was completely shocked. Instead of walking in and feeling like I was welcomed and the staff happy to see me, it was the feeling of - am I interrupting your day or something! Very non personable people here. I didn't recognize anyone from before. Service was terrible, I originally thought the waitress was in training. She was so bad I'm still not convinced she wasn't. Since the menu has considerably changed (not for the better) I had asked the waitress if she could make a burger similar to a burger that was on the old menu. I received a blank stare followed by 'so you want the (whatever it was called) burger off the menu'? Really!! No, that's not what I asked for but even after trying to explain it to her again, well, guess what I got. The burger itself was not like it use to be. It was drier, very very fast food-like thrown together, just not the same. Everything was so poorly done that I gave up, ate everything with a fork and knife, and asked for the check. Bottom line - the food is definitely not worth the jacked up prices; service is terrible; beer ok (kept it bottled so I wouldn't be further disappointed)... Where did the old management go to so I can go there?
(1)Micaela I.
My husband and I ordered a spinach and artichoke dip as appetizer and it was delicious. And then we ordered a ribs to share since it was 2 lbs of meat and my husband ordered 2 drinks (once in a blue moon and real mojito) and both were too sweet and had no taste. The ribs were hard and we could barely cut it through. We never had a ribs as bad as that one. The service was ok.
(2)Alexa-Rae F.
Horrible. A reservation turned into a 10 minute wait... Which turned into an hour wait with no apology/explanation. Vegetable Risotto tasted very sour and meals didn't come as ordered.
(1)David H.
My colleague and I went for a quick lunch. I had the clam chowder which was excellent. The service was superb. For lunch I had the tuna burger which was really good. Comes with sweet potato fries as well. My colleague had the French Dip. He thought it was good, but felt the beef slices could have been a bit thicker. Would like to come back again for dinner.
(4)Susan B.
Went here 3/8 for an early dinner on a Sunday...sat in the bar area as it's easier for my 82 yr old mom...my dd and I sat on the window side and nearly FROZE there was a breeze coming in and had to wear our coats...and NO ONE said oh gee are you cold? First off when we went in and said can we sit in the bar, the host said sure, and then wondered off no menus etc..um hello...I think we may need those to order...the waitress was great very very helpful...now onto the menu...mom got the cup of onion soup and it was fab, my burger was great, now onto my big issue...the kids menu...I have a 12 year old and she may want to eat something more than a chicken finger or hot dog...for a good restaurant they offer next to NO decent and healthy menu options for a child (someone under 16) but older than 5! No steak option for kids and the kids burger (the next table had one) looked like the chef stepped out to McD's across the street and brought it back and put it on a plate! Seriously for that kind of $$ I want something DECENT for my child...a veggie, side salad...SOMETHING other than hot dog, burger, chicken finger, fish sandwich...bummer too cause I generally like this place. Survey says...X for kids options...
(3)Slurms M.
Honestly this is exactly what you expect for the name. It is a bloated American food joint. The food is fine. It lacks character, but generally features fresh ingredients whether or not the actual entree is worthwhile. The atmosphere is filled with business people who think highly of themselves, but aren't too high class. The bar is usually filled with people on their iPhones with their earbuds in. The staff is helpful, but is quick to disengage once another drink is passed up. Too many good places in Woburn proper to waste time on this convenient, but rather melanchology restaurant.
(2)Chris M.
Mediocre service...a group here staying in the hotel attached to the place were told we could not be served. Unacceptable...plus the fact that they waited until the bill was paid do they could collect the tip.
(1)Catherine W.
Service was pretty good at the bar; food was average - got tuna tartare, calamari, and a NY strip. Good amount of TVs. Driving here, I felt the sign for the restaurant is a little hard to see in the dark.
(3)Jane R.
Although some items here are decent, none are great and the service is really sub-par. You really want to avoid their brunch,it is AWFUL. The selection is limited (small menu) and if you don't ask for the items included with your meal they will forget to serve them to you. You know, small things like juice, bread, muffins, home fries ...
(2)Joanne G.
At one time not so long ago I went vegetarian. It was for a good reason, there was no hate towards meatlovers, just had a personal reason. Well what it's in the past is in the past, and on the way home I felt the NEED for a good steak. When I think of a steak, I think of Joe's. They never disappoint me. The New York strip is a work of art. Perfectly cooked medium with an amazing crisp edge to die for. They have good decent sides, so no disappointment there. Onion soup, wedge salad...so great. It's big enough that you aren't sitting on top of one another and you can almost not heat the sometimes annoying kids. The staff is friendly yet not in your face all the time. I like when they suggest things yet know when to stop talking.
(4)Keri S.
Just finished up a meal with my family here. The service was good and speedy. We tried all three sangrias...all three were yummy but my favorite was the one with lemon in it. The crusty bread was delicious. All of the food was great. Burgers, crab cakes, wings, nachos, onion soup, and meatloaf are all recommended!
(4)Joe C.
Good food fast. Great clam chowder and the ahi tuna I ever had very fresh and good prices. The service was good and was very clean.
(4)Dennis U.
I've dined here several times and have not been disappointed...nor have I been overwhelmed. A B grade steak house with lots of other things on the menu. I had the New York steak with a baked potato and a side salad...adventuresome,eh? It was ok and a lot cheaper than some of the A team joints. Reasonable wine list, come on the weekend for the prime rib.
(3)Michelle A.
My mom always stays in the hotel connected to JAB&G. She really loves the food there and of course the convenient location. While she was in town I ended up eating there twice. I ordered the same thing. Ribeye with sauteed spinach. Ribeye was cooked medium rare the way I liked it but the spinach was different both times. Both edible but the first night the spinach still had some life in it like if it were in a salad. The second time is was more mushy. Both edible like I said but consistency in a restaurant is key. First night the waiter was great and took care of us without being overbearing. Second night the girl was a little too much for all of our liking. She was nice and polite but came by way too much to check on us. I know customers are all different but she needs to just ease up a bit and relax. Otherwise everything was great. Food is a little pricey. The dark woods and bright lights make it an odd contrast in my opinion but manageable. Front desk staff are always super sweet. Bartenders can go either way for me. I'm not a local so I guess I don't get that treatment. Menu could use an upgrade or some additions. I guess I've been here enough to know the menu by heart.
(3)Aaron M.
I honestly don't know how to rate this place. The decor is nice. That's about the end of the pleasantries. If you're looking for a place to quickly empty your wallet for mediocre fare than this is the place for you. The amount of food served for the price is rather dismal. Our server was lousy and barely spoke English. Your better off going to Applebee's.
(1)Megan H.
*This is an edit. Initially, I wrote about Peabody, when I meant for Woburn's location.* Here is my experience: I just returned from a lunch hour. I meeting with my brother for a birthday meal, since it is conveniently located between us. Our server gave us a few minutes to review the menu. She was nice and knowledgeable about the daily specials, which included buffalo wings. My brother was sold, and even wanted two orders for his entree. I just picked the Original Burger. After a long conversation, our waitress asked if we might want some bread as we wait. Not keeping track of exactly what time it was, we noticed that we haven't even gotten our food, yet. I looked at my clock, at it showed 1:29 pm. I know that we sat down at 12:40. So, with 50 minutes of waiting, there was no sign of food. I wanted to give them an extra second worth of waiting, and the food finally appeared behind my brother. At that time, there would be no time to enjoy our food, so we thought to wrap it to go. Time was really ticking to head back to work, and yet... it was taking a very long time to even have that wrapped. I had to jet out of there. Sorry, Joe's American. You didn't deliver your A game at all. To wait nearly an hour during a lunch hour (which should be typical in this area) is just ridiculous. Bring your food out in 12 minutes, tops! No hate on the servers or the back of the house, but you need to fix your problem areas. That includes: -Service -Updating your menu (I've gone back to Joe's American maybe once every 1-5 years since I was 15). The menu has not changed. -You have pretty fancy prices for mediocre meals ...which leads me to, have ordering my medium done burger looked a lot like well-done. I wish I could say one good thing. But, it was just a disappointment altogether.
(1)Mike K.
The phrase "it's a slippery slope" comes to mind. I just had lunch at Joe's American for the first time in 5 years. My last experience here was great, so I have to wonder what is going on at this location after going here again today. I went with a group of people from my office for a post Christmas lunch. With a group of 8 people we were seated in the bar area when there were clearly tables available in the dining room. I didn't want to come off as obnoxious with my co-workers so remained silent. We had a pretty unattentive server, and our initial contact for a drink order was 15 minutes from start to finish. That is simply too slow for a business lunch. She had zero personality and was simply "going through the motions." One of my colleagues ordered some type of salad and made a simple request for the dressing to be separate. This got missed, so he was forced to wait for a "replacement" salad while the rest of the group started to eat. The server was unapologetic. I had the saddest excuse for a Cobb salad possible. I don't want to get into Food Channel levels of detail, but suffice to say it was just poor in every way. This place is considered by many as a "step up" from Applebees or the 99, but I have to disagree. Ironically, there is a 99 Restaurant almost next door. I will go there next time if given the choice.
(1)Ralph G.
I Always have a good meal and the staff is always pleasent
(4)Jeff M.
It's tough to categorize Joe's. It's like halfway between an upscale steakhouse and Applebee's. The Applebee's part may be insulting, that's why I chose to also offer up the visual of it being more like a Capital Grille as well. The kitsch is a tad off putting. The outstretched, oversized, eagle greets you as you walk in the door along with a classic telephone booth, sans the telephone. Americana oozes out of the windows and into the building. However, the style inside is classy and not too over the top. Dark floors and furniture are what give the restaurant the feel of a steakhouse and the flare is what lends it more towards Applebee's....but again, that is not a rip on their actual food at all. I go on my lunch breaks from work and feel like I walked into a banker's meeting, without a tie I often feel under dressed. The clientele here is usually decked out to the nines, usually over the age of 40 and usually of the red meat connoisseur ilk. Oh Em Gee, what do they do to that butter to make it so F'ing good with the fresh bread that arrives at every table!? I just want to slather this all over.....wait, maybe I should stop. FIVE STARS FOR BREAD AND BUTTER, YAY! I have yet to try any of the appetizers but the tuna shashimi always seems to call out my name and I have the most difficult time NOT ordering it, mainly because of price. The salad entrees, with iceburg lettuce are overpriced and my partner will be avoiding them from now on. If I'm going to drop $12+ on a salad, it BETTER not be friggin iceburg lettuce! Insulting, to say the least.... Aaaahhh, so the burger and steak tips show up to save the day, you say? Yes they do, and raise the grade high enough to excel with flying colors!! The medium rare burger I ordered was cooked to perfection, smothered in sauteed mushrooms and swiss. I probably shouldn't eat red meat for a week to avoid an impending heart attack, but I had cravings for the same exact thing the very next day. Everything about it, including the french fries and honey mustard dipping sauce....were simply perfect. Oh, and I did have tofu that night to compensate. You're going to have a tough time getting out of here for less than $15 a person so be prepared to open your wallet, but also know that it IS worth it. Go for the Americana and stay for the great food! Even our server was lovely, asking us numerous times if everything was alright, she got a nice tip that day.
(4)Sandy C.
Came here with a 9 friends to grab some lunch. This place was pretty quiet and our server was really friendly and attentive. I never knew my friends loved bread so much until this lunch. They were like fiends when the bread came out. The bread was okay, so I wasn't too crazy about it. For appetizer, some gotten the Joe's New England Clam Chowder served in a bread bowl. The Chowder was really thick and creamy, which was pretty good. I think this should be shared because after eating one of those along with the bread bowl, I can't imagine how stuff one can be. With 9 friends, we had also ordered the Asian Chicken Salad, a Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Club Sandwich, three eggs with sausage that comes with a mimosa, farmer's omelette and 4 Joe's Original Burger. I had the Joe's Burger that came with onion rings and fries. The burger was pretty decent. The lunches here reminds me of a fancy diner of some sort, except at this place there's white table cloths and there is a wine menu. Very typical American food.
(4)Kate R.
I don't write many reviews here but I felt obligated to do so because of our experience at this restaurant last night. If the service alone had been terrible (which it was), I might not have bothered, but my fiance got terrible food poisoning from his meal, so I figured it was only fair to warn others. Our waitress, whose name I don't remember but who was middle aged and had dark hair, was hopelessly incompetent- to say that waitressing did not come naturally to her would be an understatement. Taking our order was an awkward, aggressive production and I found myself hoping she wouldn't stop by our table to check on us just because I knew that whatever exchange that transpired would be uncomfortable. We aren't people to look for flaws at restaurants. We generally give places the benefit of the doubt. But my water had a hair in it, my silverware had a large chunk of food stuck to it, my beer was brought to me room-temperature rather than cold, my salad was brought with dressing (even though I'd asked for it with dressing on the side) and had to be re-made, my fiance's soup was brought out at the same time as his meal even though he'd asked for it in advance of his meal, and the sides he was given were incorrect- they actually gave him salmon with a side of mashed potatoes and a baked potato. Two potatoes- seriously? So that had to be sent back too. We left the restaurant having not enjoyed the meal even a little bit. But the food poisoning that struck my fiance several hours after we got home ensured we weren't going to be able to forget this meal for a long time. (My guess is perhaps the salmon?) He has been miserable ever since dinner last night. If you value your health, avoid this restaurant like the plague.
(1)Matthew P.
This was my first time visiting this restaurant. I was a little skeptical at first since it was attached to a Hampton Inn. I sat at the bar and the service was good. The bartenders were very helpful and attentive. I order the crab cakes for an appetizer. It wasn't great but definitely not bad. I also ordered the jambalaya for my main meal. I'm a big jambalaya fan and order it often during my travels. This jambalaya was really good. I'm a fan and would order it again. Overall I think this is good place to eat and reasonably priced. I will be back next time I travel to the area.
(4)Ashley C.
I was expecting a burger joint when I walked in, but it's definitely more business professional.... The food is delicious and the restaurant is seriously clean. I have to say the chicken pot pie is awesome!! Fluffy crust, creamy gravy... yum! The prices are high end but so is the food.
(4)Angela L.
I read the other reviews and have to echo several things. I ordered a steak - told them they could do the NY strip or the ribeye, whichever the kitchen thought was a better piece of meat. What I got was pretty grisly, especially for $26. I skipped the potato (I'm watching carbs) and asked for the ONE green vegetable on the menu, the sauteed spinach, of which I got maybe three bites worth. Had to ask for silverware... got a fork with serious crust on the handle. Agree that this restaurant has had better days - did not know about new owner. This area needs a good American/grill fare restaurant. I was on my way to Wayland - sure wish I had held out for the Coach Grill down there.
(2)Charlotte M.
Came here on Mother's Day. There was a 3 hour wait! So my brother and I sat in the section near the bar where you can seat yourself. It took about 10 minutes for anyone to bring us menus. Granted it was Mother's Day, but it was quite a while. Service was a little short with us, you could tell she was very busy. My primavera pasta came out with shrimp on it, I didn't order it that way, she took it back right away and the correct pasta came out pretty quickly, and the cook brought it over himself and apologized. That was nice! They are no longer carrying the Strawberry Shortcake, I was pretty sad to hear about this. One comment in relation to another patron. One of my biggest pet peeves, people who invite themselves to sit at dirty tables. An older couple sat at a table that had recently been vacated. It still had plates, glasses, silverware, and napkins on it. There were 2 other clean tables available they could have sat at. They then beckoned the server over to come and clean the table off, and were frustrated when she didn't hear them because she was taking another table's order. DON'T sit at dirty tables people! It's gross and demeaning when someone has to bus, clean, and set a dirty table you decided to sit at.
(3)Mike B.
Stopped in for dessert since we were staying at the Hampton Inn attached to it. The stuff we got wasn't fantastic, but it was ok.
(3)Heather R.
The bar staff is the best here! I literally only go for the prime rib, great deal and they are very good at cooking it to my liking, rare. Which is difficult on prime rib. It is a weekly spot for me, but I am moving soon and I will definitely miss the bar staff!
(4)Maggie G.
VERY impressed with the friendly and attentive bartender, Ian. Finding myself making Joe's my new favorite stop because of the welcoming that I receive. I'd had a list in my head of five things a server/bartender would have to do to really impress me - and he nailed all five. Love that! Each time I've been in the food's been great and the drinks better! Looking forward to my next visit!
(5)Tank T.
Food is hit or miss, was there once, was very good, went again on Friday the 30th of Nov, 2012, and was meh. Drink order for 4 guys, one beer flat, diet soda with lime, no lime. Never got water for one after ordering, and reminder. Food was ok, very skimpy on fries with the Chicken Club. Servers seem to congregate at a central location, chatting and checking phones. Servers when not at the central terminals, walk quickly by, and avoid your looks, hand up, and saying "excuse me". Doubtful will go back.
(2)Jenn T.
Disgusting... Food was not good, mac n cheese was bland, London broil was horrifying. It was a weird purple color and looked like entrails you would feed an animal. I will definitely never go back to a Joes
(1)Susan R.
I have NO IDEA why this has only three stars. This place is AWESOME. We went for dinner Saturday night and I have nothing but AMAZING things to say. The service was excellent, the food was good - I'd say 4 stars for the food but honestly the service blew it out of the park. I've been to classy, 5 star, black tie restaurants in NYC that didn't have service this good. We got there early - it was like, 5 or 6 - and the place was pretty empty. They have a big wine list for a burger joint and had a recommended wine they poured us samples of and everything. Okay, so, I have celiac's, so I'm terribly sick if I eat bread, right? So first of all, they have gluten free buns for their burgers (awesome!). And everything is made from scratch, so not only is the food delicious, but you don't have to worry about any cross contamination or anything and also you know the food is fresh!! So the gluten free buns, they're obviously not quite bun shaped, they look kind of like pancakes, they're flat, but damn if they aren't gluten free (rice flour ftw!) bread buns to put on my burger, I am super happy. And the sweet potato fries were AWESOME. And my friend who got a regular burger said his was good too. And the portions were huge; I could only eat half the burger and had to take the rest home. So it was $15 for a burger and a huge thing of sweet potato fries, but I got two meals out of it because it was so big. So the AWESOME PART - So you know, it's a normal restaurant, they give you bread when you sit down. So they bring the bread and my friend eats it (and says it's delicious btw), and our waitress - her name was Sam I think? sweet dark haired chick - came over to take our order and noticed I wasn't eating the bread and was like, "Oh you don't like the bread?" And I told her I had celiac's, and she was like, oh! Hold on just a second. And about 10 minutes later the chef came out and handed me a basket which had gluten free bread, that were delicious, with the butter on the side and everything, just like a normal bread basket normal people get. This has never happened to me before; it was so super cool. And the manager came over when the food came to say that she had watched them make my burger and assured me that there was not even a crumb of gluten near it. And she came back twice during the meal to make sure that everything was okay. So super cool. The place is clean, everyone is friendly, and they are so accommodating about allergies it's ridiculous. We're def going back.
(5)Scott J.
I had lunch here with a few friends on a Wednesday in the middle of the week between Xmas and New Year's and I was extremely disappointed. I was really looking forward to the Cobb Salad, one of my recent favorites everywhere else. Unfortunately, the waste of a crispy shell holding the salad was stale and, rather than use full pieces of lettuce, it contained only shredded lettuce. That doesn't work in a salad. Also, what's a cobb salad without larger pieces of bacon -- and there was no egg, either. Just tons of shredded lettuce and black olives, along with three measly strips of avocado. No thank you and I'm still hungry. I'd only go back because it's convenient for friends who have a baby.
(2)David K.
Loved it! We were tired after a long car ride, and just picked this because it was close to our hotel. What a find! Excellent service and awesome food!
(5)Jay H.
I was a bit skeptical after reading the reviews but knowing that negatives will get posted much more quickly and frequently than positives, I decided to check it out (especially since I can take the elevator home - staying at the attached Hampton Inn). Boy, am I glad I did! The food was good (not great) but the staff was fantastic!! I sat in the bar area and everyone that I encountered was really polite, attentive and nice. I ate a good meal (Minestrone and a very good Ahi Tuna Salad) and had a couple of beers and didn't even sit at the bar. One of the bartenders asked my name as I paid and thanked me for being there. Today I thought about heading into North End for Italian and pubs but didn't feel like dealing with the traffic and drive since I leave tomorrow and will be back in the area at least 3 times this year. So, I returned to Joe's. Sitting at a table in the bar area, I ordered a drink and dinner. When the bartender from the night before, Holly, brought my calamari out (not the greatest but good), she greeted me by name! Less than 30 seconds of interaction the night before among a number of bar patrons (VERY crowded, especially for its location) and she remembered my name. Fantastic!! We chatted a bit and I was so impressed by Holly! All of the other wait/bartending staff that I talked to (mostly Lisa and Diane) were also very nice and paid a lot of attention to me as a customer. I can say that this is a place I will return to and that I can highly recommend BECAUSE of the staff, especially Holly (since I'm in the Boston area it may be "Harley", okay, it's not but it could be - c'mon, sound it out)! For the rating, the food gets a 4 (calamari could be more tender but it does have good flavor; fresh chilis instead of pickled would be even better) but the staff get a 6 (Holly a 7!!)!
(5)Heather C.
Food is great at this location, but the service is only so, so. The wait staff can be aggressive about suggesting that you start with soup or salad, but then seem to disappear during the meal when you might need a refill or something.
(3)Alex D.
I just went here and have no idea why this place has anything less than 5 stars. The burger was excellent, the service was awesome (our server was Sam who was super nice), and the gluten free options are super good. Best of all? The price wasn't above other good bars. Strongly recommend!
(5)Kell B.
Usually I frequent other Joes american but on this occasion i was near the city and we decided to try this one. Over the past year everything at all the Joes seems to have gone down in quality. Our experience here was a nightmare, we choose to just laugh about it, because really there was nothing else we could do. We sat in bar area at the tables during lunch. Our waitress had a few other tables. Not to many, but was very confused the entire time. Bringing us random drinks, never really being accessible. The food was all decent, but the food used to be so much better here before. The bread is still amazing. To top everything off our waitress gave us the wrong bill. Thankfully we saw this because It wasn't worth the money we paid let alone a higher check! No plans of returning to this location and honestly probably any of the other locations. Things have just gone to far downhill.
(1)Kenji G.
your chili has been epic lately. Nice work.
(4)Mike R.
Went here for lunch today. It seems that they they just redesigned their menu. In all honesty, I like their old menu was better. It seems that they have taken away some of the little things. But the old tried and true items are still good. Maybe, they are a bit smaller but still good. I have gotten the Buffalo chicken wrap and I didn't like it at all. it had way too much blue cheese dressing. This time around I got the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with chili. The chicken was tender, the chili was good. Great item and it was a reasonable price at $12.50. (the chili was an extra $1.5 but if you get it on the side, they give you a mini bowl of it, which seems like a great value) My wife got the french dip. It was great, My two complaints are that they only give you a thin layer of meat and it is a bit expensive at $14. Before they re-designed the menu they gave you a-lot more meat. Service is a little hit and miss. This time around was good. Although there were times in the past when it wasn't. Ever since they re-launced the menu, it seems that they have taken away the little things. They don't give you bread while you wait for your meal anymore. And worst of all, during sunday brunch, they would give you little muffins to have with your coffee, while you waited for your food. Well, those muffins are now gone... or at least they were a couple of months ago. Ever since they eliminated the muffins, we stopped going there for brunch. All and all, the food is good but you just have to know what to order. Or better yet, what not to order.
(3)Kevin T.
Nice place to come watch the game. Reminds me a lot of a Ruby Tuesday. Little costly, but good food in the end.
(3)Rob F.
I go to this place religiously. Since I moved here (summer 2010) I've had nothing but good experiences so now I'm a regular. The food is very good and the drink prices are average. The bar staff is friendly and quick. The restaurant is tied to a hotel but it's definitely not a "hotel restaurant". I do see a lot of locals there so it's not all hotel guests. Some days it's packed, others not so much. If you're with a date, it's comfortable. If you're alone, sit at the bar and visit Ian, Trish, or Mike. They'll take good care of you.
(4)Bryan M.
This is the first time I have ever been to a Joe's before. The décor didn't reflect the outside style however was a real nice home feeling. The server wasn't good she kept looking off into the distance when trying to tell us the specials of the day. She came over and asked how our salads were and if they were cooked properly. Once we received our entrée which was delivered by the manager I not once saw my server until I had to ask for her to get our check. I would go back to a Joe's only for the food not the service.
(5)Clancy B.
This was my first visit to this restaurant, in company with four friends. I had no idea what to expect never having eaten at any restaurant in the franchise. However based on this experience I will not be eating at any Joe's in the future! It was nothing short of terrible! I found the wait staff to be rude and unhelpful. As a previous reviewer mentioned the staff were AWOL, clustered around their desk having a great old time. Our waitress did break away a couple of times to see if she could push some more drinks but that was about the extent of her interest. We ordered the crabcakes and nachos for an appetizer. The waiter didn't inform us that the "crabcakes" consisted of a single cake obviously from a bulemic crab. There was much hilarity between my friends and I as we tried to figure out how to divide up the creature. We ended up with 1/2 forkful each. The nachos were something else. A small mound of nacho chips welded together somehow with a dried substance which at one time might have been cheese. There was a small demitasse of sauce on the side. Anyone trying to serve themselves from the heap move the entire pile off the plate in one piece. A jackhammer might have helped dislodge a piece or two. Ever the optimist I ordered the sirloin steak tips ($17.99) medium well. They were one notch north of rare when they arrived and provided a good half hour of chewing entertainment before they could be swallowed. The gravy, what there was of it, tasted like it came out of a Lipton foil packet. One friend order the Marguerite Pizza which barely covered the middle of a standard dinner plate. The poor guy starred at his plate in disbelief when it arrived - even at $10 it was a ripoff. We would have gotten more enjoyment from Panera's across the street for a LOT less than the $40 apiece this joint bilked us for. Never again!
(1)scott j.
You know the old saying, dont fix what isnt broken. That shouldve been the motto for this place before they sold it. They have been under new management for about a year I believe and every time has been worst than the time before. I work about 1/4 mile away so I like to add this in to my weekly lunch routine. Well after going here 1-2 times a week over the past 3 years I have become accustomed to certain things and have even taken some of the changes in stride since I liked it so much, but not anymore... The new menu has been launched which is similar to before however it seems as if EVERY dish went UP and price and went DOWN in size, not a good combination. Our server only came over to smile one time and that was coincidentally as she gave us the bill. Without getting into compainting about each individual dish and what was wrong with it I can tell you that in our party of 4 all 4 of us had left unhappy and unsure about our next return. This is tough to say and have not wanted to write this for a while since as I mentioned this place is my favorite and has my favorite meal but between the service, the price increase, and the quantity of food going down I do not think we will be rushing back. One thing that restaurants like this do way to often is they get to cocky and believe that what they have is better than what it is and I feel that is exactly what happened here. If you want to be considered more upscale and charge higher prices, than you should atleast leave your customers feeling satisfied with the meal and experience and that we were not.
(1)Aniela L.
As my roommate said tonight, "it's one of those places that could be on Kitchen Nightmares!" This restaurant was not at all what I expected. I fully expected a TGI Friday's-type restaurant as far as atmosphere, but was sadly disappointed to find a dark, boring atmosphere. Definitely not a place for the 20-something crowd, or for those of us pushing 30+. More like a place my grandparents might enjoy. Our waitress was attentive, and overall service was good. Food on the other hand was not so great. Our fried mozzarella came out of the kitchen completely burnt, and entrees were not much better. Perhaps this is a place to go if you already know one or two really good things on the menu, but if you're looking to stop in as a newcomer, you're better off going down the street to one of the other restaurants.
(2)Steve L.
Had an all-day meeting, so 8 of us wanted to go out for dinner. Too tired to drive into Boston, we decided to meet here at Joe's American. There's about 14 of these restauarants in MA, CT, NJ, and RI. Basically, they serve, well, American food. You know, burgers, steaks, fish, pizza, ribs..... First order of business was a beer, so I ordered a seasonal Sam Adam's Oktoberfest. The pint came promptly, and I continued to scan the menu. Started out with a cup of New England clam chowder. Good start, nice chunks of clams. These clams were very fresh, tender, not chewy. Soup was thick, but not goopy, and a nice little buttery taste. For entree, I had the sirloin steak tips. These were 8-9 chunks of steak tips, grilled to order, and came with a little carafe of mushroom gravy, onion rings, and mash potatoes. Steak tips were grilled medium rare as requested, very tender, and very tasty. Don't know what was with my table-mates, but they didn't want dessert. That didn't stop me, so I ordered a Charles River Pie. Didn't know what to expect, but when it arrived, my eyes opened up, as well as my table-mates. This was about a 5-inch high coffee ice cream pie, topped with fudge, whipped cream, and almonds, on a chocolate cookie crust. Sooooo gooood! With a hot cup of coffee, I had no problem finishing it. No complaints about the service. They were attentive, and all of the waitstaff worked together to serve all of their customers.
(4)V M.
Came here for dinner and we had a pleasant dining experience. I had their turkey burger with sweet potato fries. It was yummy. My sister had asked for the angel hair pasta with no cheese. The waitress said it came with cheese (even though the menu said otherwise). She wrote down, "No cheese." Well, we got the pasta and there was some cheese in it. I tried some even though it looked like tiny chopped up garlic. It was definitely cheese. We sent it back stating there was cheese in it and the waitress kinda tried arguing saying there wasn't any. She took it back and gave us another, this time without cheese. She apologized and I told her that it was because she was allergic. The waitress then tells us, after the fact, that if it was a food allergy that they have a totally different procedure for that. It was kind of a waste telling us that then. You should have the same procedure, allergy or not, when someone tells you they don't want a certain something in their entree. I'd go to other places to eat if I visited Boston again. The food was decent but the whole "food allergy" procedure that the restaurant had was totally absurd and a complete turn off.
(2)David A.
I can't give this place more than 3 stars. The food was average, service was competent but not blown away in any way. For a place called "American Joe's" I have to agree with prior reviews that it's def not the place to watch any games. Sporadic TV's spread around a small area with little to no sound on a packed evening. Drink selection was okay, entree's were... average. I wish I could be more in depth, but this place was just a solid 3. Not bad, but nothing to write a great review about.
(3)Kate R.
I went on a Sat a few hours after lunch so I can't say much to how crowded it gets during peak hours. There was hardly anyone there when I went. It's a bit weird as the parking lot for it is behind a hotel. Food was decent. I ordered Fish & Chips. The fried fish part was excellent. 'Chips' (american chips, ie French Fries) not so much. They were a bit on the greasy and overcooked side. The servers were nice but a bit slow at orders, refills, and such.
(3)Warren C.
Terrible. For appetizer we had loaded nachos, but they were very skimpy on the cheese. My blackened burger was terrible. Service was slow and unfriendly. I would not return.
(1)Mike N.
The food is nothing to write home about, but it's not bad. I had a thoroughly so-so burger. Won't go back unless I'm starving
(3)Miss M.
Years ago, I used to love coming here, but in recent years--unfortunately it seems to have gone from, a classy american look to more of a cold corner pub feel, where the floors were most likely cleaned with a dirty mop. It's really sad. It looks run down now. The food was a HUGE disappointment. The meat and fish weren't as fresh. I started with an ahi tuna appetizer that was straight up strange. Even a side of french fries tasted like they were dipped in some sort of detergent. The french onion soup wasn't bad, but it's not hard to make. The ribs appetizer was okay, not much meat to it. But all in all, for the quality and quantity of the food--it's WAY over priced. I would have understood if the food was fresher, and like it was years ago. It's a pity, I feel as though management or the corps have just not given a care, or just think they are up to par. Well I disagree. So, all in all, I'd go to Uno's for a better experience, for half the price. I am sad that it's gone down hill. But paying 65 dollars for: mediocre-bad lunch fish and chips, a cup of soup and a few short ribs, three sodas...doesn't make sense to me. Plus we had a strange waiter. But...I wouldn't be passionate if I worked there either.
(2)Alex M.
Had the Mac & Cheese with Parmesan bread crumbs, with a glass of orange juice (freshly squeezed!) about half an hour ago. Best thing I've ever had. Loved my waitress too. Great prices and hope to be back here again!
(5)John E.
At ~$20 The steak tips and mash was good, and the bartender was great
(3)Joe D.
Love this place! I never pass up the opportunity have dinner & drinks at Joe's. Great food, and exceptional service.
(4)Paul B.
I'd have to agree with the recent reviews that Joe's seems to be slipping. It seems that the quality has decreased as the chain continues to grow. I've eaten here a couple times in the last 6 months and it's been satisfying to a degree but it seems more in line with TGI Fridays than the more upscale restaurant and bar that it appears to be. My last 2 orders were steaks and both have been over cooked. Ironically there is a chart on the menu describing what each category of wellness means but it does not coincide with what actually comes from the kitchen. I ordered my steak medium the first time and got it well done. Thinking I would be smarter the second time I ordered it medium rare and ended up with medium-well (very little pink). There is a great drink menu but it seemed that the drinks were weak. I do have to say that the staff is always great and I enjoyed not being rushed out after dinner so that we could have a couple drinks and hang out.
(2)Steve F.
I'm a big fan of this place. Let me first start out telling you that their bread and butter might just be the best around. If you like Chili this also is a must try. My favorite entree is the chicken picata, if you like this dish you must order this.
(4)Jack M.
Remember when this was JC Hillary's? Loved it then. Not much has changed - decor is the exact same. Food is too. Waitstaff is a crapshoot - but - well, it's an "American" Bar & Grill, so that goes with the terrirory. I am never blown away by the food here - I just like drinking here. The pasta dish with all the vegetables is pretty good. Chicken Pot Pie is decent too. Go if you're sick of all the crummy mexican places nearby....
(4)John F.
Had a business lunch there and was totally unimpressed. The lettuce in my salad was clearly old and wilted, and the water was luke warm. They could at least put ice in their water pitchers.
(1)Carolyn P.
I went to Joe's with a girlfriend who'd never been before. I should of had her drive further up the road to the one in Peabody. The service was crappy at best, the waiter seems to never notice us. My spinach had so much salt on it, it truly was inedible. When I asked for a new vegetable, it took 15 minutes to get broccoli. How tough is it to cook? The whole night was a bomb..
(2)Justin B.
Gave it one more chance. Got a Burger. It tasted like it had been marinated, basted, and then slathered with kerosene. I could not eat it. My dinner companion got a chicken club but they forgot to put bacon on it. The waitress was not concerned that neither of us really even touched our food. The fries were good. The margaritas were good as well. I am still dropping it down to one star though.
(1)Sory D.
Loved, that's my new " lunch point" food is good, drinks too and the sevice Gosh I have no words to explain: how polite and efficient " Ian Butters " (the bartender ) is, he knows everyone and he treats everybody like an old friend. Yes I'm coming back weekly
(4)Marc H.
I've been here once and that was about it for me. Why? Well, I ordered a burger and fries, and the burger was so-so, but it was the fries--they tasted really funny. I ate a few and stopped, thinking that there was something wrong with them. Well, I got sick that night and was unable to eat much of anything for nearly a week. I could have written this off as a one-time thing, but I just have no desire to go back there again.
(1)Jonathan K.
What can I say, it's Joe's. I've had good service and bad service. My son being 2.5 loves coloring and the chicken tenders...for a hangout with a few drinks it's okay...Personally I'm not much of a chain restaurant person, I prefer the atmosphere of smaller pubs and local restaurants...
(3)C.M. M.
Thirty dollars for a glass of wine and an individual margharita pizza - well, sort of - their version is flatbread with tomato sauce (read - NO Tomatoes) and a half a pound of cheap cheese melted with DRIED basil sort of sprinkled on the middle. The menu read "tomatos, mozzarella, and fresh basil" - blech! Horrid! And expensive to boot! Not a place I return to...
(1)Christie L.
WOW. That's all I can say! We went here on a Thursday night and it was packed. The staff was super friendly and it seemed way more classy than I anticipated. The name led me to believe it was more of a diner type place, boy was I wrong! I ordered the sirloin tips that came with carmelized onions, mashed potatoes, and gravy. I honestly can see why some people might think the place is just so so based on this dish. Every bite I thought...I've had better. BUT, I had started with the clam chowder, very thick and full of clams. It was the best chowder that we've had in the area so far! Their bread is also very good. And the real winner was my bf's dish. It was sooo good that it would make me give 5 stars literally no matter what I ate. There was a prime rib special (normally only served Fri and Sat) and he ordered the 24oz. It was cooked perfectly and was so juicy and flavorful. Neither of us could think of any prime rib we'd had that was better than this prime rib. I highly recommend it!!!! We'll definitely be back!!!
(5)Mike S.
To the (hot) bartender who barely said hello to me and didn't bother asking me if I wanted to order from the menu that I had to practicly beg her for: EAT ME!!! I liked this place when it began, but now this place is like a McDonalds, only the staff aren't as nice and the prices are twenty times as high. I shall NEVER return - NEVER!!!!
(1)michael m.
I've only ever been here for lunch. It is very crowded and busy (with all the offices and what-not in close proximity). The food is okay, standard American fare -- burgers, sandwiches, seafood, but nothing worth writing home about. Service is the best part -- the wait staff is very good. I used to work right up the street, and we nicknamed the place "Average Joe's", because there is nothing unique about this place.
(3)Julia F.
I like it. Slightly expensive, but I have only had good experiences here. I like the food, and often the bar isn't that crowded and the bartenders were nice all times I went. I will go back, one of these days. I took some time to think back, and this was the first in a VERY long line of bars I went to for the pub crawl on my 21st birthday, so no wonder my memory of it was a little foggy... Perhaps I should go back, not necessarily to repeat that ludicrous night, just to check it out again...
(4)Carrie M.
After having a great experience at the Joe's in Natick, my boyfriend and I decided to grab a quick dinner at this location. We were seated promptly, shared an appetizer and both order an entree. The food took forever to come and the waitress was slow, with no personality. She spent most of our visit chatting with the host in the kitchen( we could see from our seat). We were able to leave once another waiter noticed our waitress hadnt been there in a while and wrapped up our leftovers and brought the check. Food was average.. During previous visits we had noticed that Joe's serves brunch. Sunday morning we gathered up a few friends and headed that way, excited for the complimentary cocktails with an entree purchase. We were sat quickly again and ordered our cocktails. Our waitress return to let us know that Mass Liquor laws didn't allow them to serve us. OK. So we ordered juice and coffee(which was disgusting and over priced). The food was pretty bad. Nothing to write home about. Waitress was not bad this time.. slow though. All in all I don't recommend this Joe's...
(1)Dan M.
The clam chowder in a bread bowl was wonderful. Crab cakes were pretty good as well. The place was packed and the service was fair. Not bad at all for a chain.
(4)Christine S.
The chili. Yup that's what I would recommend. I know, not what you would first think when you head to a restaurant with all the offerings Joe's has but really, this homemade, chunky and spicy chili is excellent. Especially with the bread they serve. A nice cold draft beer and truly you'll be all set. Of course you can venture into other items on the menu. All standard fare there in my opinion and a bit too pricy for what you get. Place gets the business crowd. Some fun people watching can occur at the bar.
(3)Ron L.
Great burgers and fries, just wish they gave you more fries. The buns they use for the burgers are tasty too. Used to go there every Friday for a burger and couple of Sam Adam's drafts for lunch. Waitstaff got to know my friend and I fairly quick (we eat next to the bar) so when they saw us coming from the parking lot, our beers were already waiting for us on the bar when we walked in...this after only three or four vists. Nicely done. They definitely have better food than the usual chain restaurants like Ninety-Nine or Applebee's.
(4)Lisa C.
I am completely basing this review on one visit a few months back: Myself and two friends decided to try the brunch..us all being huge fans. We were all especially happy about the booze that's included in the price! It was about 11:00am when we arrived. Our server was nice, brought us all coffee and started to take our orders. Myself and one of my friends ordered the eggs Benedict, and my other friend got a fresh fruit cup and hash browns. When we asked for our mimosas, we were denied. What the hell!!!!!! You do NOT screw around with booze. Especially when it comes to us three. So when we asked why we couldn't have the drinks, they responded with "we can't serve liquor until 12:00pm on Sundays". Ok. Totally understandable. I'll get back to this later... About the meal... Eggs benedict was so-so. It tasted like the hollandaise was sitting under a heat lamp for an hour. The poached eggs were great though. When we got our bill, all three of us were surprised that we had been charged full price for our coffees. I know it doesn't seem like a huge deal, but we paid for booze, didn't get it - so we got coffee instead. No big deal, right? Wrong. We asked our server to take off the price of the coffees (about $5) hoooly shit. She went into the kitchen area (which was right behind us) and told her manager the entire story. We heard everything, which is ANNOYING. We don't need to hear the entire conversation. It's unprofessional and RUDE. So the manager comes over and explains that it's not his fault that we can't have booze. Ok, we were over the booze, just comp my coffee so we can get outta this place. He made a mountain out of a mole-hill and my friend put him in his place!!! He was being completely ridiculous, REFUSING to comp us for the price of the coffee when we paid MORE for a drink we couldn't have. WTF!? In the end, he ended up comping my friends entire meal, which was WAY more than we had expected, what an idiot! I won't go back here.
(3)Brian B.
Overall, mid level average food quality. Nothing I had was super wow nor was it bad in any way either. I had a pretty decent cheeseburger with the fried mozzerella appetizer. Also had a cup of the clam chowder. Everything was pretty good and so was the service. I would not go out of my way to eat here but it's very convenient if you are staying at the Hampton Inn which is connected to it.
(3)Busy L.
Big disappointment. Quality and service went downhill. Service was horrible and food was subpar. Crabcakes were fishy. Steak with melted cheddar was lacking flavor and tasted like the steak was soaked in a brine. S&S cheesecake was the only highlight.
(1)Lyndsay B.
While expensive, Joe's food is pretty good. The (lunch) service here is quick and efficient (just what you want at lunch). Call ahead if you're planning for a large group, otherwise getting a table can be a bit difficult.
(4)Jessica B.
It's not listed, but Joe's in Natick is the best! Steve the manager is awesome, he really knows how to take care of people. And the grande nachos are to die for!
(5)Mike T.
service was horrible and the food was cold and there was no one in the place i would not go here again
(1)John R.
Not the very good pretty much all the Joe's are the same and all not the best, I have tried the Woburn location out several times now and was never even close to being impressed with the food but again none of the Joe's are in my top picks for steak/food. The service was OK staff was hit or miss, some were friendly at times other were not but they are not the reason fo only two stars. The food mediocre at best the steaks are just not very tastey not sure if it's the way they cook them or just low quality meat. Every time I have visited the place only had a handful of customers, maybe my timing was off but IMO if this is the norm for the place I can't believe they make enough money to keep the doors open. The two Joe's in Boston seem to attract a bigger crowd but I am sure they are more tourists than actual Boston residents. I wouldn't recommend going to Joe's there is plenty out there that are much better.
(2)David Y.
Only place local that shows Steelers games!
(5)Matthew A.
Went here recently for a business lunch. Service was really attentive- almost too much so. Had iced tea- very good! Started with soups - both were fine. Not remarkable, but decent. Both had salads. I had the house Caesar with steak. The steak was a flank cut. Very small portion maybe 2 oz at the most. Over cooked and not at all flavorful. Nice space & atmosphere. Was super busy on a Wednesday at 12:30 but when we left an hour later is was really quiet. So big lunch place.
(3)Andrew P.
Look, I probably would not have chosen this place but it was a convenient meeting place at the time. Woops. What a mistake, this was literally my worst dining experience in ages. I had been here about six months ago, sat in the bar and had an ok to slightly above ok experience. Last night, this couldn't have been further from the case. The waitress was clearly new, but like way too new to be on her own. The service was INCREDIBLY slow. Like next level I would rather just drink water from the hose outside slow. It took 15 mins to get drinks, the table next to me was sat and then left before the server got there. The next table that sat complained and had managers deliver their food for the rest of the night and the table to my left complained with us about how bad the service was. You would think that if a table was complaining about service, the management might take a look at the other tables that the server is covering. The food was just ok. For a $16 burger, there are plenty of other places I would rather go but honestly I am sure that the bad taste was much more reflective of the service. I have no problem having a one star experience when I walk into a chain, I half expect it. At a place like this you shouldn't have that happen. I do not recommend for anyone, won't be recommending to anyone and definitely will not be going back. Good luck if you are still considering.
(1)Lizzie B.
It was fine, I guess. There is something inherently depressing about spending Thanksgiving at a chain restaurant, but alas, this is what my Grandmother wanted. We had a 12 p.m. reservation for 11 people. We were seated promptly, and were the only people in the entire restaurant for at least an hour. They had at least 15 servers on staff, yet somehow two people had to ask for silverware, and I waited over 20 minutes for my first glass of wine. Staff were nice - just seemed like they were a bit out to lunch. I can't really blame them - I wouldn't be chomping at the bit to work on a major holiday either. Food was passable. For $25 you get all you can eat turkey dinner which includes - white turkey breast (no skin), mashed potatoes, squash, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy. You could also order the scallop risotto ($25) which was not all you can eat. I ordered the latter and was pretty satisfied. The risotto was creamy and included a lot of veggies - carrots, spinach, some other greens - and unfortunately, what appeared to be canned mushrooms. It came with 5 scallops - three bigger sized ones, and two tiny ones. I didn't try the turkey dinner but my Uncle Michael said "it tasted like an entire weeks worth of sodium" Most people at the table echoed this sentiment. On the plus side - Joe's sends home with every turkey order - a completely new, whole plate of turkey - free of charge. General Notes: Water glasses were not refilled often enough. Music was weird - top 40 (Fitz and the Tantrums, random hip-hop) AND Micheal Buble? Joe's really needs to settle with a themed play list. None of this music really fit the holiday mood nor the clientele. TIP: When the average age of the patrons is 65 - don't play Britney Spears. Complimentary bread was a bit stale, but I appreciated the soft, whipped butter. Beer was served with chilled mugs - well played! I had to ask for a drink list - that was annoying. Especially with a large party - wanting to get down and be festive - it's in your best interest to push us towards the booze. Most people in my party just randomly shouted out domestic beers, and hoped Joe's had them. My Irish Coffee was weak - not weak in booze, but rather served with weak coffee. I'm also pretty sure they used skim milk rather than cream. We were led to believe Joe's only offered one desert - the pumpkin cheese cake. After half of us already ordered. my Aunt Lynette found out that we could order any desert on the regular menu. Too bad a regular menu was never provided. When prompted - the waitress orally informed us of the other options. Pumpkin cheese cake was amazing! By far the best thing I ate - creamy and light, with homemade whip cream -YUM! I also loved my Aunt Lynette's salted caramel cheese cake. It tasted exactly like Goetz's Caramel creams. Decor was nice. Large, clean bathrooms, nice dark wood paneling dining room.. comfortable chairs. All and all - it was an ok experience, but I'm not rushing to go back. It's nice not to have to deal with cooking and cleaning the house - but the experience just felt stale and anemic. I was also expecting higher quality food and service from a restaurant owned by Atlantic Fish Company and Abe and Louie's. 2.5 stars.
(3)N F.
They no longer serve prime rib, but there are a few other options.
(3)doug r.
I chose to sit in the dining room as I wanted something a tad quieter than the noisy bar area. But karma seated a couple with a noisy two year-old behind me. Silly parents thought they could reason with a two year-old. Why did I chose Joe's? It was convenient (behind) my hotel and they offer a 10% discount to hotel guests. I was not in the mood to engage Woburn's traffic. I arrived ~6:20PM and was seated immediately. Bar area was quite busy/noisy. Dining room, not so much. Sabrina was my server. Attentive, hustles, knows the menu, hustles ... and got everything right the first time. She should be working somewhere more upscale - bigger checks should equal bigger tips. I opt'd for their $25 prix fixe menu. The three shrimp appetizer, seafood stew entree (mussels, salmon & a very petite lobster tail in an unremarkable sauce) and a bread pudding w/ice cream dessert. It was satisfactory, but did not delight. Would I order this combo again? No. Will I return? Possibly. After long days, I'm really not in the mood to travel for food. WiFi network is insecure. A business computer/server is on the same subnet that customers access. Baaad juju. One star for the guest-WiFi network. Three stars for the food. Five stars for Sabrina.
(3)Damien S.
For all the polish and crisp collars on the staff, I'm a bit surprised as to how sloppy the actual food is at this regional chain's locale. My turkey burger ($14) came on a "buttered"-greasy whole wheat bun with what seemed like sliced bleu cheese and a side of bland guac. The sauteed spinach requested in lieu of the standard fries featured limp, ashy leaves swimming in oily base. I can see the inherent appeal to Joe's, especially if you're a road warrior salesfolk who wants to close your clients over a seemingly high-end lunch. Bring the heavy pen, order the seared ahi tuna salad and bask in commissions and bottomless iced teas. But for a pair of hangry kids who just wanted a solid burger, Joe's limped to the rescue. I'm in no rush to head back.
(2)Greg L.
Went here with some vendors for dinner one evening and enjoyed some delicious Nachos for an appetizer and went with their meatloaf for dinner, which was a recommendation from a coworker. The nachos were really good and quite large and was easily shareable between the 5 of us in our party. You also get complimentary bread, which was good. I couldn't believe how large my meatloaf dinner plate was. I basically got two large pieces of meatloaf over mashed potatoes and braised red cabbage on the side. A delicious meal, but way too much for me to eat! All in all, a good place to go with fast and friendly service. Would definitely come back here again next time I'm in the area.
(3)Mark R.
I know better than to trust this restaurant chain for providing the same meal described on the menu to me. Today I ordered a Kale and Quinoa Salad. What I got was 25% Kale and 75% iceberg lettuce, a teaspoon of quinoa, and a pinch of sliced almonds. Give me a break! A $5 salad for $19 and that does include the meals tax and a 20% gratuity. Folks stay away from this place. The Kale and Quinoa Salad at the Cheesecake Factory in Burlington is fantastic.
(1)Lisa P.
I was very disappointed when we arrived here and we're waiting quite some time for drinks and our orders to be taken. There were hitches here and there / apparently they are under new management and "lots is changing" Apparently changes not for the better - have you ever heard of a place that doesn't have house wines? Absurd! One of us had to order a $10 glass of wine not even filled to the correct level / more like "wine tasting" Their food supposedly has had a huge change since the new management - there were unpleasant sauces for my meal (much to be desired with their ranch) It was awful! On top of all of this, there was a child screaming her head of for a good portion of dinner. This was disrupting the entire dining area, it would have been nice if they would suggested a parent take her out of the room. And when we asked a staff about birthdays (because we'd taken two people out for their birthday) they replied with "we don't do that here" Needless to say, I really don't ever want to return here or any Joes.
(1)Nikki B.
Really love their new menu. You must try the Cajun Maple Bacon!!Service was quick and friendly. One thing that's really important to me is a clean bathroom, and they had a clean one. I had the brunch eggs Benedict with crab cakes and hollandaise sauce. Excellent!
(4)Josh F.
The bartenders here are all exquisite, and the selection in beers doesn't hurt. They recently revamped the menu and damn. A meatloaf that is made with rib meat??? Yeah, I'll get that every time.
(5)N F.
I travel to Woburn 4x a year and eat at this restaurant three or more times (lunches/dinners) during my trips. That is 12 or so times a year -- more than I eat at certain restaurants at my own home city. My favorite meal is, well, was, the seared Ahi Tuna salad. Tonight, after flying in from southern California, I stopped before even heading to my hotel,to pick up my favorite meal. But I was informed that the menu had been changed almost 2 weeks ago, and my salad was no longer on the menu. At 9:30 at night, I didn't have a lot of other options. The staff dutifully told me what a great "new" chicken salad is now on the menu, but I can get a perfectly acceptable chicken salad at -- oh -- at least four local restaurants come to mind. Instead I opted to get a dinner salad and tuna tartare. What a colossal disappointment. The dinner salad was unspectacular unless you count the overuse of sliced onions; and the dressing was absolutely tasteless. On top of that, not wanting to drown my entire salad in salt with the include soy sauce, I simply mixed the tartare into the dinner salad. The raw tuna and avocado must have been completely unseasoned; as the result was that the whole meal had NO flavor whatsoever. Guess I've had my last meal at American Joe's. Fortunately, there are a Not Your Average Joe's, Cheesecake Factory, Season's 52 and Paparazzi all very close by with excellent food. Best of luck to you with the new menu.
(1)Krista C.
Their burgers were delicious! Fries were good as well. I was impressed they had 60 minute on tap too. Very friendly staff as well. I would recommend this place over the other nearby chain restaurants.
(4)Rachel L.
They have recently changed their menu and went way up on their prices. Service is either hit or miss here. I used to do takeout a lot but after paying for overpriced salads that had brown wilted lettuce and my order being wrong numerous times, I stopped going. I decided today to try it since it's been a while. The sandwich I always used to order was $11 is now $15, how do you charge $4 more for a chicken sandwich? It's not a chicken club anymore, it's a small piece of grilled chicken on ciabata bread and fries. I'm far from cheap and have no problem paying for food that tastes good but this was not worth the money. Chicken was dry and slathered in some kind of flavored mayo. I won't be back anytime soon, not worth the cost.
(2)Fred S.
A bit overpriced but fantastic service and food. I'm a big fan of Crabcakes and wow! are they great. Very convenient location and lots of parking. A must-stop if you're in the area of the 93/95 intersection.
(4)Jeremiah D.
This place has an entrance that is more impressive than the food. The ambiance is that of almost high end. The food did not match. My friend ordered a steak and loaded potatoes. The steak he loved, but not for the $26 it cost. The loaded potatoes were not good he said. I had the sword fish special, as did my other friend. We did not like it at all. It lacked flavor. A piece of fish with melted butter...really? The claim chowder was actually very good. If I ever go back, it would be just for the chowder.
(3)TinoX T.
I'm a Fan for this Place and specially the one in NewBury St NIce Food,Clean
(4)Wm H.
Food was good, seems like a place the business men go for lunch. Hidden behind a hotel. I would return.
(4)Alex M.
It was alright but nothing special. I split the nachos and they were pretty good. I tried the Mac n cheese and opt'd to add lobster. The lobster added nothing to the dish so save your money. The service was what killed it for me though. Nice enough waitresses, but very apathetic. I doubt I'll be back.
(3)Elle G.
Had an unpleasant experience here last evening. Although the waiter was attentive with refills on our sodas, the food was terrible. We ordered the crab cakes appetizer and there was only one small crab cake. Since we were a couple, maybe the waiter could've indicated that there was only one when we were ordering. For main course we had the scallops risotto and the lobster mac n cheese. The scallops had a very odd flavor that I couldn't identify so I had my date try and he said the same thing. It was almost like a chemical flavor. The lobster mac n cheese was just ok. I am in no way a picky eater, I will eat almost anything. Very disappointed.
(1)Julie P.
The service, atmosphere, wine list (albeit a little over-priced) and are excellent! We made a reservation through Open Table and were sat right away even though there was a waiting line. If you are going to get the kale salad, make sure the waiter gives you the dressing it's meant to be served with, otherwise you end up with basically raisins and raw kale (apparently the dressing softens the kale to make it more tasty). I recommend Joes!
(4)Mahmoud E.
A company I was doing business with took me here for lunch. Nice atmosphere, abundant parking!! They serve complimentary bread which is just amazing! The best bread I ever had, I ordered a cup of clam chowder which was ok, not great, which means it's bad for Boston. Ordered the swordfish tips which was the special of the day, the swordfish was ok. Nothing special, my first time having swordfish so I found it to be slightly dry, a little too fishy, but in no way was it terrible just not preferred fish. The side rice and asparagus was perfect, the grilled lemon was a great accompaniment. Service was quick and attentive. Not a bad option for Woburn.
(3)Ken C.
I was staying a hotel in the area for business and I decided to take a walk over to Joe's rather then eat at the place right next door (Bad Yelp reviews on the food) The service here was fantastic. It may have been the best service I have ever gotten sitting at bar (with the exception of being a regular of course). The bartender Michael quickly introduced himself and his co-bartender Jessica. he brought me a beer and took my appetizer order immediately. The two of them worked together to make sure my drink was always full and my empty plates were removed right away. They were also very friendly and always called me by name which is always nice. OK, so onto the food. I started off with the New England clam chowder which was very good. They offered me cracked pepper to top it off which was a very nice touch. I had a caesar salad after and the salmon for the main course. My fear of ordering salmon in bars is that it will be overcooked, but not here. It was grilled perfectly. It could have been seasoned a little better, but nothing that a little lemon could not fix. I would much rather it be a little bland then dried out anyway. The spinach that it was cooked over was also very nice complement. All in all, I was very impressed with Joe's and I would definitely go back if I am in the area. The food was more gastro-pub then typical bar food and the service really impressed me. Cheers.
(4)Rachel E.
Just went here last week with my mum. Food is great. Service was good but our server was a bit over enthusiastic. He came by too often, interrupting our dinner. Beyond that it was a great time. My mom got the haddock special and I got the steak tips. Both were cooked well and tasted great.
(4)Manfred S.
Business lunch standard place. I think I have been here a few dozen times and this is place where I forget to check in with the Yelp App. It is always basic good American food, but it is just basic good American food. There is nothing really exciting to write about this place. I go. I eat. And hopefully someone else is picking up the tab. Safe and boring, but definitely A-OK.
(3)Paul L.
The food was very good, the waitstaff was efficient. It was a little pricey for a pub, but I would go back.
(4)Jay C.
I had a great experience the first time I went. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. I specially loved that they served their bread warm. The second time I went the bread wasn't was cold but otherwise it was still a great experience. What I love the most was all of their vegan options. I will definitely return.
(5)Sandra D.
This place turned into a way, way overpriced mediocre hotel food lobby restaurant. You know, the ones you go to at the hotel to grab a drink.....before or after you go out to eat. This place used to be my go to place for a great burger, great beer and great service. I had moved and hadn't been here in almost a year so when I was back in the area this was the first place I went. I was completely shocked. Instead of walking in and feeling like I was welcomed and the staff happy to see me, it was the feeling of - am I interrupting your day or something! Very non personable people here. I didn't recognize anyone from before. Service was terrible, I originally thought the waitress was in training. She was so bad I'm still not convinced she wasn't. Since the menu has considerably changed (not for the better) I had asked the waitress if she could make a burger similar to a burger that was on the old menu. I received a blank stare followed by 'so you want the (whatever it was called) burger off the menu'? Really!! No, that's not what I asked for but even after trying to explain it to her again, well, guess what I got. The burger itself was not like it use to be. It was drier, very very fast food-like thrown together, just not the same. Everything was so poorly done that I gave up, ate everything with a fork and knife, and asked for the check. Bottom line - the food is definitely not worth the jacked up prices; service is terrible; beer ok (kept it bottled so I wouldn't be further disappointed)... Where did the old management go to so I can go there?
(1)Micaela I.
My husband and I ordered a spinach and artichoke dip as appetizer and it was delicious. And then we ordered a ribs to share since it was 2 lbs of meat and my husband ordered 2 drinks (once in a blue moon and real mojito) and both were too sweet and had no taste. The ribs were hard and we could barely cut it through. We never had a ribs as bad as that one. The service was ok.
(2)Alexa-Rae F.
Horrible. A reservation turned into a 10 minute wait... Which turned into an hour wait with no apology/explanation. Vegetable Risotto tasted very sour and meals didn't come as ordered.
(1)David H.
My colleague and I went for a quick lunch. I had the clam chowder which was excellent. The service was superb. For lunch I had the tuna burger which was really good. Comes with sweet potato fries as well. My colleague had the French Dip. He thought it was good, but felt the beef slices could have been a bit thicker. Would like to come back again for dinner.
(4)Susan B.
Went here 3/8 for an early dinner on a Sunday...sat in the bar area as it's easier for my 82 yr old mom...my dd and I sat on the window side and nearly FROZE there was a breeze coming in and had to wear our coats...and NO ONE said oh gee are you cold? First off when we went in and said can we sit in the bar, the host said sure, and then wondered off no menus etc..um hello...I think we may need those to order...the waitress was great very very helpful...now onto the menu...mom got the cup of onion soup and it was fab, my burger was great, now onto my big issue...the kids menu...I have a 12 year old and she may want to eat something more than a chicken finger or hot dog...for a good restaurant they offer next to NO decent and healthy menu options for a child (someone under 16) but older than 5! No steak option for kids and the kids burger (the next table had one) looked like the chef stepped out to McD's across the street and brought it back and put it on a plate! Seriously for that kind of $$ I want something DECENT for my child...a veggie, side salad...SOMETHING other than hot dog, burger, chicken finger, fish sandwich...bummer too cause I generally like this place. Survey says...X for kids options...
(3)Slurms M.
Honestly this is exactly what you expect for the name. It is a bloated American food joint. The food is fine. It lacks character, but generally features fresh ingredients whether or not the actual entree is worthwhile. The atmosphere is filled with business people who think highly of themselves, but aren't too high class. The bar is usually filled with people on their iPhones with their earbuds in. The staff is helpful, but is quick to disengage once another drink is passed up. Too many good places in Woburn proper to waste time on this convenient, but rather melanchology restaurant.
(2)Chris M.
Mediocre service...a group here staying in the hotel attached to the place were told we could not be served. Unacceptable...plus the fact that they waited until the bill was paid do they could collect the tip.
(1)Catherine W.
Service was pretty good at the bar; food was average - got tuna tartare, calamari, and a NY strip. Good amount of TVs. Driving here, I felt the sign for the restaurant is a little hard to see in the dark.
(3)Jane R.
Although some items here are decent, none are great and the service is really sub-par. You really want to avoid their brunch,it is AWFUL. The selection is limited (small menu) and if you don't ask for the items included with your meal they will forget to serve them to you. You know, small things like juice, bread, muffins, home fries ...
(2)Joanne G.
At one time not so long ago I went vegetarian. It was for a good reason, there was no hate towards meatlovers, just had a personal reason. Well what it's in the past is in the past, and on the way home I felt the NEED for a good steak. When I think of a steak, I think of Joe's. They never disappoint me. The New York strip is a work of art. Perfectly cooked medium with an amazing crisp edge to die for. They have good decent sides, so no disappointment there. Onion soup, wedge salad...so great. It's big enough that you aren't sitting on top of one another and you can almost not heat the sometimes annoying kids. The staff is friendly yet not in your face all the time. I like when they suggest things yet know when to stop talking.
(4)Keri S.
Just finished up a meal with my family here. The service was good and speedy. We tried all three sangrias...all three were yummy but my favorite was the one with lemon in it. The crusty bread was delicious. All of the food was great. Burgers, crab cakes, wings, nachos, onion soup, and meatloaf are all recommended!
(4)Joe C.
Good food fast. Great clam chowder and the ahi tuna I ever had very fresh and good prices. The service was good and was very clean.
(4)Dennis U.
I've dined here several times and have not been disappointed...nor have I been overwhelmed. A B grade steak house with lots of other things on the menu. I had the New York steak with a baked potato and a side salad...adventuresome,eh? It was ok and a lot cheaper than some of the A team joints. Reasonable wine list, come on the weekend for the prime rib.
(3)Michelle A.
My mom always stays in the hotel connected to JAB&G. She really loves the food there and of course the convenient location. While she was in town I ended up eating there twice. I ordered the same thing. Ribeye with sauteed spinach. Ribeye was cooked medium rare the way I liked it but the spinach was different both times. Both edible but the first night the spinach still had some life in it like if it were in a salad. The second time is was more mushy. Both edible like I said but consistency in a restaurant is key. First night the waiter was great and took care of us without being overbearing. Second night the girl was a little too much for all of our liking. She was nice and polite but came by way too much to check on us. I know customers are all different but she needs to just ease up a bit and relax. Otherwise everything was great. Food is a little pricey. The dark woods and bright lights make it an odd contrast in my opinion but manageable. Front desk staff are always super sweet. Bartenders can go either way for me. I'm not a local so I guess I don't get that treatment. Menu could use an upgrade or some additions. I guess I've been here enough to know the menu by heart.
(3)Aaron M.
I honestly don't know how to rate this place. The decor is nice. That's about the end of the pleasantries. If you're looking for a place to quickly empty your wallet for mediocre fare than this is the place for you. The amount of food served for the price is rather dismal. Our server was lousy and barely spoke English. Your better off going to Applebee's.
(1)Megan H.
*This is an edit. Initially, I wrote about Peabody, when I meant for Woburn's location.* Here is my experience: I just returned from a lunch hour. I meeting with my brother for a birthday meal, since it is conveniently located between us. Our server gave us a few minutes to review the menu. She was nice and knowledgeable about the daily specials, which included buffalo wings. My brother was sold, and even wanted two orders for his entree. I just picked the Original Burger. After a long conversation, our waitress asked if we might want some bread as we wait. Not keeping track of exactly what time it was, we noticed that we haven't even gotten our food, yet. I looked at my clock, at it showed 1:29 pm. I know that we sat down at 12:40. So, with 50 minutes of waiting, there was no sign of food. I wanted to give them an extra second worth of waiting, and the food finally appeared behind my brother. At that time, there would be no time to enjoy our food, so we thought to wrap it to go. Time was really ticking to head back to work, and yet... it was taking a very long time to even have that wrapped. I had to jet out of there. Sorry, Joe's American. You didn't deliver your A game at all. To wait nearly an hour during a lunch hour (which should be typical in this area) is just ridiculous. Bring your food out in 12 minutes, tops! No hate on the servers or the back of the house, but you need to fix your problem areas. That includes: -Service -Updating your menu (I've gone back to Joe's American maybe once every 1-5 years since I was 15). The menu has not changed. -You have pretty fancy prices for mediocre meals ...which leads me to, have ordering my medium done burger looked a lot like well-done. I wish I could say one good thing. But, it was just a disappointment altogether.
(1)Mike K.
The phrase "it's a slippery slope" comes to mind. I just had lunch at Joe's American for the first time in 5 years. My last experience here was great, so I have to wonder what is going on at this location after going here again today. I went with a group of people from my office for a post Christmas lunch. With a group of 8 people we were seated in the bar area when there were clearly tables available in the dining room. I didn't want to come off as obnoxious with my co-workers so remained silent. We had a pretty unattentive server, and our initial contact for a drink order was 15 minutes from start to finish. That is simply too slow for a business lunch. She had zero personality and was simply "going through the motions." One of my colleagues ordered some type of salad and made a simple request for the dressing to be separate. This got missed, so he was forced to wait for a "replacement" salad while the rest of the group started to eat. The server was unapologetic. I had the saddest excuse for a Cobb salad possible. I don't want to get into Food Channel levels of detail, but suffice to say it was just poor in every way. This place is considered by many as a "step up" from Applebees or the 99, but I have to disagree. Ironically, there is a 99 Restaurant almost next door. I will go there next time if given the choice.
(1)Jeff M.
It's tough to categorize Joe's. It's like halfway between an upscale steakhouse and Applebee's. The Applebee's part may be insulting, that's why I chose to also offer up the visual of it being more like a Capital Grille as well. The kitsch is a tad off putting. The outstretched, oversized, eagle greets you as you walk in the door along with a classic telephone booth, sans the telephone. Americana oozes out of the windows and into the building. However, the style inside is classy and not too over the top. Dark floors and furniture are what give the restaurant the feel of a steakhouse and the flare is what lends it more towards Applebee's....but again, that is not a rip on their actual food at all. I go on my lunch breaks from work and feel like I walked into a banker's meeting, without a tie I often feel under dressed. The clientele here is usually decked out to the nines, usually over the age of 40 and usually of the red meat connoisseur ilk. Oh Em Gee, what do they do to that butter to make it so F'ing good with the fresh bread that arrives at every table!? I just want to slather this all over.....wait, maybe I should stop. FIVE STARS FOR BREAD AND BUTTER, YAY! I have yet to try any of the appetizers but the tuna shashimi always seems to call out my name and I have the most difficult time NOT ordering it, mainly because of price. The salad entrees, with iceburg lettuce are overpriced and my partner will be avoiding them from now on. If I'm going to drop $12+ on a salad, it BETTER not be friggin iceburg lettuce! Insulting, to say the least.... Aaaahhh, so the burger and steak tips show up to save the day, you say? Yes they do, and raise the grade high enough to excel with flying colors!! The medium rare burger I ordered was cooked to perfection, smothered in sauteed mushrooms and swiss. I probably shouldn't eat red meat for a week to avoid an impending heart attack, but I had cravings for the same exact thing the very next day. Everything about it, including the french fries and honey mustard dipping sauce....were simply perfect. Oh, and I did have tofu that night to compensate. You're going to have a tough time getting out of here for less than $15 a person so be prepared to open your wallet, but also know that it IS worth it. Go for the Americana and stay for the great food! Even our server was lovely, asking us numerous times if everything was alright, she got a nice tip that day.
(4)Sandy C.
Came here with a 9 friends to grab some lunch. This place was pretty quiet and our server was really friendly and attentive. I never knew my friends loved bread so much until this lunch. They were like fiends when the bread came out. The bread was okay, so I wasn't too crazy about it. For appetizer, some gotten the Joe's New England Clam Chowder served in a bread bowl. The Chowder was really thick and creamy, which was pretty good. I think this should be shared because after eating one of those along with the bread bowl, I can't imagine how stuff one can be. With 9 friends, we had also ordered the Asian Chicken Salad, a Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Club Sandwich, three eggs with sausage that comes with a mimosa, farmer's omelette and 4 Joe's Original Burger. I had the Joe's Burger that came with onion rings and fries. The burger was pretty decent. The lunches here reminds me of a fancy diner of some sort, except at this place there's white table cloths and there is a wine menu. Very typical American food.
(4)Kate R.
I don't write many reviews here but I felt obligated to do so because of our experience at this restaurant last night. If the service alone had been terrible (which it was), I might not have bothered, but my fiance got terrible food poisoning from his meal, so I figured it was only fair to warn others. Our waitress, whose name I don't remember but who was middle aged and had dark hair, was hopelessly incompetent- to say that waitressing did not come naturally to her would be an understatement. Taking our order was an awkward, aggressive production and I found myself hoping she wouldn't stop by our table to check on us just because I knew that whatever exchange that transpired would be uncomfortable. We aren't people to look for flaws at restaurants. We generally give places the benefit of the doubt. But my water had a hair in it, my silverware had a large chunk of food stuck to it, my beer was brought to me room-temperature rather than cold, my salad was brought with dressing (even though I'd asked for it with dressing on the side) and had to be re-made, my fiance's soup was brought out at the same time as his meal even though he'd asked for it in advance of his meal, and the sides he was given were incorrect- they actually gave him salmon with a side of mashed potatoes and a baked potato. Two potatoes- seriously? So that had to be sent back too. We left the restaurant having not enjoyed the meal even a little bit. But the food poisoning that struck my fiance several hours after we got home ensured we weren't going to be able to forget this meal for a long time. (My guess is perhaps the salmon?) He has been miserable ever since dinner last night. If you value your health, avoid this restaurant like the plague.
(1)Matthew P.
This was my first time visiting this restaurant. I was a little skeptical at first since it was attached to a Hampton Inn. I sat at the bar and the service was good. The bartenders were very helpful and attentive. I order the crab cakes for an appetizer. It wasn't great but definitely not bad. I also ordered the jambalaya for my main meal. I'm a big jambalaya fan and order it often during my travels. This jambalaya was really good. I'm a fan and would order it again. Overall I think this is good place to eat and reasonably priced. I will be back next time I travel to the area.
(4)Ashley C.
I was expecting a burger joint when I walked in, but it's definitely more business professional.... The food is delicious and the restaurant is seriously clean. I have to say the chicken pot pie is awesome!! Fluffy crust, creamy gravy... yum! The prices are high end but so is the food.
(4)Angela L.
I read the other reviews and have to echo several things. I ordered a steak - told them they could do the NY strip or the ribeye, whichever the kitchen thought was a better piece of meat. What I got was pretty grisly, especially for $26. I skipped the potato (I'm watching carbs) and asked for the ONE green vegetable on the menu, the sauteed spinach, of which I got maybe three bites worth. Had to ask for silverware... got a fork with serious crust on the handle. Agree that this restaurant has had better days - did not know about new owner. This area needs a good American/grill fare restaurant. I was on my way to Wayland - sure wish I had held out for the Coach Grill down there.
(2)Ralph G.
I Always have a good meal and the staff is always pleasent
(4)Charlotte M.
Came here on Mother's Day. There was a 3 hour wait! So my brother and I sat in the section near the bar where you can seat yourself. It took about 10 minutes for anyone to bring us menus. Granted it was Mother's Day, but it was quite a while. Service was a little short with us, you could tell she was very busy. My primavera pasta came out with shrimp on it, I didn't order it that way, she took it back right away and the correct pasta came out pretty quickly, and the cook brought it over himself and apologized. That was nice! They are no longer carrying the Strawberry Shortcake, I was pretty sad to hear about this. One comment in relation to another patron. One of my biggest pet peeves, people who invite themselves to sit at dirty tables. An older couple sat at a table that had recently been vacated. It still had plates, glasses, silverware, and napkins on it. There were 2 other clean tables available they could have sat at. They then beckoned the server over to come and clean the table off, and were frustrated when she didn't hear them because she was taking another table's order. DON'T sit at dirty tables people! It's gross and demeaning when someone has to bus, clean, and set a dirty table you decided to sit at.
(3)Mike B.
Stopped in for dessert since we were staying at the Hampton Inn attached to it. The stuff we got wasn't fantastic, but it was ok.
(3)Heather R.
The bar staff is the best here! I literally only go for the prime rib, great deal and they are very good at cooking it to my liking, rare. Which is difficult on prime rib. It is a weekly spot for me, but I am moving soon and I will definitely miss the bar staff!
(4)Maggie G.
VERY impressed with the friendly and attentive bartender, Ian. Finding myself making Joe's my new favorite stop because of the welcoming that I receive. I'd had a list in my head of five things a server/bartender would have to do to really impress me - and he nailed all five. Love that! Each time I've been in the food's been great and the drinks better! Looking forward to my next visit!
(5)Tank T.
Food is hit or miss, was there once, was very good, went again on Friday the 30th of Nov, 2012, and was meh. Drink order for 4 guys, one beer flat, diet soda with lime, no lime. Never got water for one after ordering, and reminder. Food was ok, very skimpy on fries with the Chicken Club. Servers seem to congregate at a central location, chatting and checking phones. Servers when not at the central terminals, walk quickly by, and avoid your looks, hand up, and saying "excuse me". Doubtful will go back.
(2)Jenn T.
Disgusting... Food was not good, mac n cheese was bland, London broil was horrifying. It was a weird purple color and looked like entrails you would feed an animal. I will definitely never go back to a Joes
(1)Susan R.
I have NO IDEA why this has only three stars. This place is AWESOME. We went for dinner Saturday night and I have nothing but AMAZING things to say. The service was excellent, the food was good - I'd say 4 stars for the food but honestly the service blew it out of the park. I've been to classy, 5 star, black tie restaurants in NYC that didn't have service this good. We got there early - it was like, 5 or 6 - and the place was pretty empty. They have a big wine list for a burger joint and had a recommended wine they poured us samples of and everything. Okay, so, I have celiac's, so I'm terribly sick if I eat bread, right? So first of all, they have gluten free buns for their burgers (awesome!). And everything is made from scratch, so not only is the food delicious, but you don't have to worry about any cross contamination or anything and also you know the food is fresh!! So the gluten free buns, they're obviously not quite bun shaped, they look kind of like pancakes, they're flat, but damn if they aren't gluten free (rice flour ftw!) bread buns to put on my burger, I am super happy. And the sweet potato fries were AWESOME. And my friend who got a regular burger said his was good too. And the portions were huge; I could only eat half the burger and had to take the rest home. So it was $15 for a burger and a huge thing of sweet potato fries, but I got two meals out of it because it was so big. So the AWESOME PART - So you know, it's a normal restaurant, they give you bread when you sit down. So they bring the bread and my friend eats it (and says it's delicious btw), and our waitress - her name was Sam I think? sweet dark haired chick - came over to take our order and noticed I wasn't eating the bread and was like, "Oh you don't like the bread?" And I told her I had celiac's, and she was like, oh! Hold on just a second. And about 10 minutes later the chef came out and handed me a basket which had gluten free bread, that were delicious, with the butter on the side and everything, just like a normal bread basket normal people get. This has never happened to me before; it was so super cool. And the manager came over when the food came to say that she had watched them make my burger and assured me that there was not even a crumb of gluten near it. And she came back twice during the meal to make sure that everything was okay. So super cool. The place is clean, everyone is friendly, and they are so accommodating about allergies it's ridiculous. We're def going back.
(5)Scott J.
I had lunch here with a few friends on a Wednesday in the middle of the week between Xmas and New Year's and I was extremely disappointed. I was really looking forward to the Cobb Salad, one of my recent favorites everywhere else. Unfortunately, the waste of a crispy shell holding the salad was stale and, rather than use full pieces of lettuce, it contained only shredded lettuce. That doesn't work in a salad. Also, what's a cobb salad without larger pieces of bacon -- and there was no egg, either. Just tons of shredded lettuce and black olives, along with three measly strips of avocado. No thank you and I'm still hungry. I'd only go back because it's convenient for friends who have a baby.
(2)David K.
Loved it! We were tired after a long car ride, and just picked this because it was close to our hotel. What a find! Excellent service and awesome food!
(5)Jay H.
I was a bit skeptical after reading the reviews but knowing that negatives will get posted much more quickly and frequently than positives, I decided to check it out (especially since I can take the elevator home - staying at the attached Hampton Inn). Boy, am I glad I did! The food was good (not great) but the staff was fantastic!! I sat in the bar area and everyone that I encountered was really polite, attentive and nice. I ate a good meal (Minestrone and a very good Ahi Tuna Salad) and had a couple of beers and didn't even sit at the bar. One of the bartenders asked my name as I paid and thanked me for being there. Today I thought about heading into North End for Italian and pubs but didn't feel like dealing with the traffic and drive since I leave tomorrow and will be back in the area at least 3 times this year. So, I returned to Joe's. Sitting at a table in the bar area, I ordered a drink and dinner. When the bartender from the night before, Holly, brought my calamari out (not the greatest but good), she greeted me by name! Less than 30 seconds of interaction the night before among a number of bar patrons (VERY crowded, especially for its location) and she remembered my name. Fantastic!! We chatted a bit and I was so impressed by Holly! All of the other wait/bartending staff that I talked to (mostly Lisa and Diane) were also very nice and paid a lot of attention to me as a customer. I can say that this is a place I will return to and that I can highly recommend BECAUSE of the staff, especially Holly (since I'm in the Boston area it may be "Harley", okay, it's not but it could be - c'mon, sound it out)! For the rating, the food gets a 4 (calamari could be more tender but it does have good flavor; fresh chilis instead of pickled would be even better) but the staff get a 6 (Holly a 7!!)!
(5)Heather C.
Food is great at this location, but the service is only so, so. The wait staff can be aggressive about suggesting that you start with soup or salad, but then seem to disappear during the meal when you might need a refill or something.
(3)Alex D.
I just went here and have no idea why this place has anything less than 5 stars. The burger was excellent, the service was awesome (our server was Sam who was super nice), and the gluten free options are super good. Best of all? The price wasn't above other good bars. Strongly recommend!
(5)Kell B.
Usually I frequent other Joes american but on this occasion i was near the city and we decided to try this one. Over the past year everything at all the Joes seems to have gone down in quality. Our experience here was a nightmare, we choose to just laugh about it, because really there was nothing else we could do. We sat in bar area at the tables during lunch. Our waitress had a few other tables. Not to many, but was very confused the entire time. Bringing us random drinks, never really being accessible. The food was all decent, but the food used to be so much better here before. The bread is still amazing. To top everything off our waitress gave us the wrong bill. Thankfully we saw this because It wasn't worth the money we paid let alone a higher check! No plans of returning to this location and honestly probably any of the other locations. Things have just gone to far downhill.
(1)Kenji G.
your chili has been epic lately. Nice work.
(4)Mike R.
Went here for lunch today. It seems that they they just redesigned their menu. In all honesty, I like their old menu was better. It seems that they have taken away some of the little things. But the old tried and true items are still good. Maybe, they are a bit smaller but still good. I have gotten the Buffalo chicken wrap and I didn't like it at all. it had way too much blue cheese dressing. This time around I got the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with chili. The chicken was tender, the chili was good. Great item and it was a reasonable price at $12.50. (the chili was an extra $1.5 but if you get it on the side, they give you a mini bowl of it, which seems like a great value) My wife got the french dip. It was great, My two complaints are that they only give you a thin layer of meat and it is a bit expensive at $14. Before they re-designed the menu they gave you a-lot more meat. Service is a little hit and miss. This time around was good. Although there were times in the past when it wasn't. Ever since they re-launced the menu, it seems that they have taken away the little things. They don't give you bread while you wait for your meal anymore. And worst of all, during sunday brunch, they would give you little muffins to have with your coffee, while you waited for your food. Well, those muffins are now gone... or at least they were a couple of months ago. Ever since they eliminated the muffins, we stopped going there for brunch. All and all, the food is good but you just have to know what to order. Or better yet, what not to order.
(3)Kevin T.
Nice place to come watch the game. Reminds me a lot of a Ruby Tuesday. Little costly, but good food in the end.
(3)Rob F.
I go to this place religiously. Since I moved here (summer 2010) I've had nothing but good experiences so now I'm a regular. The food is very good and the drink prices are average. The bar staff is friendly and quick. The restaurant is tied to a hotel but it's definitely not a "hotel restaurant". I do see a lot of locals there so it's not all hotel guests. Some days it's packed, others not so much. If you're with a date, it's comfortable. If you're alone, sit at the bar and visit Ian, Trish, or Mike. They'll take good care of you.
(4)Bryan M.
This is the first time I have ever been to a Joe's before. The décor didn't reflect the outside style however was a real nice home feeling. The server wasn't good she kept looking off into the distance when trying to tell us the specials of the day. She came over and asked how our salads were and if they were cooked properly. Once we received our entrée which was delivered by the manager I not once saw my server until I had to ask for her to get our check. I would go back to a Joe's only for the food not the service.
(5)Clancy B.
This was my first visit to this restaurant, in company with four friends. I had no idea what to expect never having eaten at any restaurant in the franchise. However based on this experience I will not be eating at any Joe's in the future! It was nothing short of terrible! I found the wait staff to be rude and unhelpful. As a previous reviewer mentioned the staff were AWOL, clustered around their desk having a great old time. Our waitress did break away a couple of times to see if she could push some more drinks but that was about the extent of her interest. We ordered the crabcakes and nachos for an appetizer. The waiter didn't inform us that the "crabcakes" consisted of a single cake obviously from a bulemic crab. There was much hilarity between my friends and I as we tried to figure out how to divide up the creature. We ended up with 1/2 forkful each. The nachos were something else. A small mound of nacho chips welded together somehow with a dried substance which at one time might have been cheese. There was a small demitasse of sauce on the side. Anyone trying to serve themselves from the heap move the entire pile off the plate in one piece. A jackhammer might have helped dislodge a piece or two. Ever the optimist I ordered the sirloin steak tips ($17.99) medium well. They were one notch north of rare when they arrived and provided a good half hour of chewing entertainment before they could be swallowed. The gravy, what there was of it, tasted like it came out of a Lipton foil packet. One friend order the Marguerite Pizza which barely covered the middle of a standard dinner plate. The poor guy starred at his plate in disbelief when it arrived - even at $10 it was a ripoff. We would have gotten more enjoyment from Panera's across the street for a LOT less than the $40 apiece this joint bilked us for. Never again!
(1)scott j.
You know the old saying, dont fix what isnt broken. That shouldve been the motto for this place before they sold it. They have been under new management for about a year I believe and every time has been worst than the time before. I work about 1/4 mile away so I like to add this in to my weekly lunch routine. Well after going here 1-2 times a week over the past 3 years I have become accustomed to certain things and have even taken some of the changes in stride since I liked it so much, but not anymore... The new menu has been launched which is similar to before however it seems as if EVERY dish went UP and price and went DOWN in size, not a good combination. Our server only came over to smile one time and that was coincidentally as she gave us the bill. Without getting into compainting about each individual dish and what was wrong with it I can tell you that in our party of 4 all 4 of us had left unhappy and unsure about our next return. This is tough to say and have not wanted to write this for a while since as I mentioned this place is my favorite and has my favorite meal but between the service, the price increase, and the quantity of food going down I do not think we will be rushing back. One thing that restaurants like this do way to often is they get to cocky and believe that what they have is better than what it is and I feel that is exactly what happened here. If you want to be considered more upscale and charge higher prices, than you should atleast leave your customers feeling satisfied with the meal and experience and that we were not.
(1)Aniela L.
As my roommate said tonight, "it's one of those places that could be on Kitchen Nightmares!" This restaurant was not at all what I expected. I fully expected a TGI Friday's-type restaurant as far as atmosphere, but was sadly disappointed to find a dark, boring atmosphere. Definitely not a place for the 20-something crowd, or for those of us pushing 30+. More like a place my grandparents might enjoy. Our waitress was attentive, and overall service was good. Food on the other hand was not so great. Our fried mozzarella came out of the kitchen completely burnt, and entrees were not much better. Perhaps this is a place to go if you already know one or two really good things on the menu, but if you're looking to stop in as a newcomer, you're better off going down the street to one of the other restaurants.
(2)Steve L.
Had an all-day meeting, so 8 of us wanted to go out for dinner. Too tired to drive into Boston, we decided to meet here at Joe's American. There's about 14 of these restauarants in MA, CT, NJ, and RI. Basically, they serve, well, American food. You know, burgers, steaks, fish, pizza, ribs..... First order of business was a beer, so I ordered a seasonal Sam Adam's Oktoberfest. The pint came promptly, and I continued to scan the menu. Started out with a cup of New England clam chowder. Good start, nice chunks of clams. These clams were very fresh, tender, not chewy. Soup was thick, but not goopy, and a nice little buttery taste. For entree, I had the sirloin steak tips. These were 8-9 chunks of steak tips, grilled to order, and came with a little carafe of mushroom gravy, onion rings, and mash potatoes. Steak tips were grilled medium rare as requested, very tender, and very tasty. Don't know what was with my table-mates, but they didn't want dessert. That didn't stop me, so I ordered a Charles River Pie. Didn't know what to expect, but when it arrived, my eyes opened up, as well as my table-mates. This was about a 5-inch high coffee ice cream pie, topped with fudge, whipped cream, and almonds, on a chocolate cookie crust. Sooooo gooood! With a hot cup of coffee, I had no problem finishing it. No complaints about the service. They were attentive, and all of the waitstaff worked together to serve all of their customers.
(4)V M.
Came here for dinner and we had a pleasant dining experience. I had their turkey burger with sweet potato fries. It was yummy. My sister had asked for the angel hair pasta with no cheese. The waitress said it came with cheese (even though the menu said otherwise). She wrote down, "No cheese." Well, we got the pasta and there was some cheese in it. I tried some even though it looked like tiny chopped up garlic. It was definitely cheese. We sent it back stating there was cheese in it and the waitress kinda tried arguing saying there wasn't any. She took it back and gave us another, this time without cheese. She apologized and I told her that it was because she was allergic. The waitress then tells us, after the fact, that if it was a food allergy that they have a totally different procedure for that. It was kind of a waste telling us that then. You should have the same procedure, allergy or not, when someone tells you they don't want a certain something in their entree. I'd go to other places to eat if I visited Boston again. The food was decent but the whole "food allergy" procedure that the restaurant had was totally absurd and a complete turn off.
(2)David A.
I can't give this place more than 3 stars. The food was average, service was competent but not blown away in any way. For a place called "American Joe's" I have to agree with prior reviews that it's def not the place to watch any games. Sporadic TV's spread around a small area with little to no sound on a packed evening. Drink selection was okay, entree's were... average. I wish I could be more in depth, but this place was just a solid 3. Not bad, but nothing to write a great review about.
(3)Kate R.
I went on a Sat a few hours after lunch so I can't say much to how crowded it gets during peak hours. There was hardly anyone there when I went. It's a bit weird as the parking lot for it is behind a hotel. Food was decent. I ordered Fish & Chips. The fried fish part was excellent. 'Chips' (american chips, ie French Fries) not so much. They were a bit on the greasy and overcooked side. The servers were nice but a bit slow at orders, refills, and such.
(3)Warren C.
Terrible. For appetizer we had loaded nachos, but they were very skimpy on the cheese. My blackened burger was terrible. Service was slow and unfriendly. I would not return.
(1)Mike N.
The food is nothing to write home about, but it's not bad. I had a thoroughly so-so burger. Won't go back unless I'm starving
(3)Miss M.
Years ago, I used to love coming here, but in recent years--unfortunately it seems to have gone from, a classy american look to more of a cold corner pub feel, where the floors were most likely cleaned with a dirty mop. It's really sad. It looks run down now. The food was a HUGE disappointment. The meat and fish weren't as fresh. I started with an ahi tuna appetizer that was straight up strange. Even a side of french fries tasted like they were dipped in some sort of detergent. The french onion soup wasn't bad, but it's not hard to make. The ribs appetizer was okay, not much meat to it. But all in all, for the quality and quantity of the food--it's WAY over priced. I would have understood if the food was fresher, and like it was years ago. It's a pity, I feel as though management or the corps have just not given a care, or just think they are up to par. Well I disagree. So, all in all, I'd go to Uno's for a better experience, for half the price. I am sad that it's gone down hill. But paying 65 dollars for: mediocre-bad lunch fish and chips, a cup of soup and a few short ribs, three sodas...doesn't make sense to me. Plus we had a strange waiter. But...I wouldn't be passionate if I worked there either.
(2)Alex M.
Had the Mac & Cheese with Parmesan bread crumbs, with a glass of orange juice (freshly squeezed!) about half an hour ago. Best thing I've ever had. Loved my waitress too. Great prices and hope to be back here again!
(5)John E.
At ~$20 The steak tips and mash was good, and the bartender was great
(3)Joe D.
Love this place! I never pass up the opportunity have dinner & drinks at Joe's. Great food, and exceptional service.
(4)Paul B.
I'd have to agree with the recent reviews that Joe's seems to be slipping. It seems that the quality has decreased as the chain continues to grow. I've eaten here a couple times in the last 6 months and it's been satisfying to a degree but it seems more in line with TGI Fridays than the more upscale restaurant and bar that it appears to be. My last 2 orders were steaks and both have been over cooked. Ironically there is a chart on the menu describing what each category of wellness means but it does not coincide with what actually comes from the kitchen. I ordered my steak medium the first time and got it well done. Thinking I would be smarter the second time I ordered it medium rare and ended up with medium-well (very little pink). There is a great drink menu but it seemed that the drinks were weak. I do have to say that the staff is always great and I enjoyed not being rushed out after dinner so that we could have a couple drinks and hang out.
(2)Steve F.
I'm a big fan of this place. Let me first start out telling you that their bread and butter might just be the best around. If you like Chili this also is a must try. My favorite entree is the chicken picata, if you like this dish you must order this.
(4)Jack M.
Remember when this was JC Hillary's? Loved it then. Not much has changed - decor is the exact same. Food is too. Waitstaff is a crapshoot - but - well, it's an "American" Bar & Grill, so that goes with the terrirory. I am never blown away by the food here - I just like drinking here. The pasta dish with all the vegetables is pretty good. Chicken Pot Pie is decent too. Go if you're sick of all the crummy mexican places nearby....
(4)John F.
Had a business lunch there and was totally unimpressed. The lettuce in my salad was clearly old and wilted, and the water was luke warm. They could at least put ice in their water pitchers.
(1)Carolyn P.
I went to Joe's with a girlfriend who'd never been before. I should of had her drive further up the road to the one in Peabody. The service was crappy at best, the waiter seems to never notice us. My spinach had so much salt on it, it truly was inedible. When I asked for a new vegetable, it took 15 minutes to get broccoli. How tough is it to cook? The whole night was a bomb..
(2)Justin B.
Gave it one more chance. Got a Burger. It tasted like it had been marinated, basted, and then slathered with kerosene. I could not eat it. My dinner companion got a chicken club but they forgot to put bacon on it. The waitress was not concerned that neither of us really even touched our food. The fries were good. The margaritas were good as well. I am still dropping it down to one star though.
(1)Sory D.
Loved, that's my new " lunch point" food is good, drinks too and the sevice Gosh I have no words to explain: how polite and efficient " Ian Butters " (the bartender ) is, he knows everyone and he treats everybody like an old friend. Yes I'm coming back weekly
(4)Marc H.
I've been here once and that was about it for me. Why? Well, I ordered a burger and fries, and the burger was so-so, but it was the fries--they tasted really funny. I ate a few and stopped, thinking that there was something wrong with them. Well, I got sick that night and was unable to eat much of anything for nearly a week. I could have written this off as a one-time thing, but I just have no desire to go back there again.
(1)Jonathan K.
What can I say, it's Joe's. I've had good service and bad service. My son being 2.5 loves coloring and the chicken tenders...for a hangout with a few drinks it's okay...Personally I'm not much of a chain restaurant person, I prefer the atmosphere of smaller pubs and local restaurants...
(3)C.M. M.
Thirty dollars for a glass of wine and an individual margharita pizza - well, sort of - their version is flatbread with tomato sauce (read - NO Tomatoes) and a half a pound of cheap cheese melted with DRIED basil sort of sprinkled on the middle. The menu read "tomatos, mozzarella, and fresh basil" - blech! Horrid! And expensive to boot! Not a place I return to...
(1)Christie L.
WOW. That's all I can say! We went here on a Thursday night and it was packed. The staff was super friendly and it seemed way more classy than I anticipated. The name led me to believe it was more of a diner type place, boy was I wrong! I ordered the sirloin tips that came with carmelized onions, mashed potatoes, and gravy. I honestly can see why some people might think the place is just so so based on this dish. Every bite I thought...I've had better. BUT, I had started with the clam chowder, very thick and full of clams. It was the best chowder that we've had in the area so far! Their bread is also very good. And the real winner was my bf's dish. It was sooo good that it would make me give 5 stars literally no matter what I ate. There was a prime rib special (normally only served Fri and Sat) and he ordered the 24oz. It was cooked perfectly and was so juicy and flavorful. Neither of us could think of any prime rib we'd had that was better than this prime rib. I highly recommend it!!!! We'll definitely be back!!!
(5)Mike S.
To the (hot) bartender who barely said hello to me and didn't bother asking me if I wanted to order from the menu that I had to practicly beg her for: EAT ME!!! I liked this place when it began, but now this place is like a McDonalds, only the staff aren't as nice and the prices are twenty times as high. I shall NEVER return - NEVER!!!!
(1)michael m.
I've only ever been here for lunch. It is very crowded and busy (with all the offices and what-not in close proximity). The food is okay, standard American fare -- burgers, sandwiches, seafood, but nothing worth writing home about. Service is the best part -- the wait staff is very good. I used to work right up the street, and we nicknamed the place "Average Joe's", because there is nothing unique about this place.
(3)Julia F.
I like it. Slightly expensive, but I have only had good experiences here. I like the food, and often the bar isn't that crowded and the bartenders were nice all times I went. I will go back, one of these days. I took some time to think back, and this was the first in a VERY long line of bars I went to for the pub crawl on my 21st birthday, so no wonder my memory of it was a little foggy... Perhaps I should go back, not necessarily to repeat that ludicrous night, just to check it out again...
(4)Carrie M.
After having a great experience at the Joe's in Natick, my boyfriend and I decided to grab a quick dinner at this location. We were seated promptly, shared an appetizer and both order an entree. The food took forever to come and the waitress was slow, with no personality. She spent most of our visit chatting with the host in the kitchen( we could see from our seat). We were able to leave once another waiter noticed our waitress hadnt been there in a while and wrapped up our leftovers and brought the check. Food was average.. During previous visits we had noticed that Joe's serves brunch. Sunday morning we gathered up a few friends and headed that way, excited for the complimentary cocktails with an entree purchase. We were sat quickly again and ordered our cocktails. Our waitress return to let us know that Mass Liquor laws didn't allow them to serve us. OK. So we ordered juice and coffee(which was disgusting and over priced). The food was pretty bad. Nothing to write home about. Waitress was not bad this time.. slow though. All in all I don't recommend this Joe's...
(1)Dan M.
The clam chowder in a bread bowl was wonderful. Crab cakes were pretty good as well. The place was packed and the service was fair. Not bad at all for a chain.
(4)Christine S.
The chili. Yup that's what I would recommend. I know, not what you would first think when you head to a restaurant with all the offerings Joe's has but really, this homemade, chunky and spicy chili is excellent. Especially with the bread they serve. A nice cold draft beer and truly you'll be all set. Of course you can venture into other items on the menu. All standard fare there in my opinion and a bit too pricy for what you get. Place gets the business crowd. Some fun people watching can occur at the bar.
(3)Ron L.
Great burgers and fries, just wish they gave you more fries. The buns they use for the burgers are tasty too. Used to go there every Friday for a burger and couple of Sam Adam's drafts for lunch. Waitstaff got to know my friend and I fairly quick (we eat next to the bar) so when they saw us coming from the parking lot, our beers were already waiting for us on the bar when we walked in...this after only three or four vists. Nicely done. They definitely have better food than the usual chain restaurants like Ninety-Nine or Applebee's.
(4)Lisa C.
I am completely basing this review on one visit a few months back: Myself and two friends decided to try the brunch..us all being huge fans. We were all especially happy about the booze that's included in the price! It was about 11:00am when we arrived. Our server was nice, brought us all coffee and started to take our orders. Myself and one of my friends ordered the eggs Benedict, and my other friend got a fresh fruit cup and hash browns. When we asked for our mimosas, we were denied. What the hell!!!!!! You do NOT screw around with booze. Especially when it comes to us three. So when we asked why we couldn't have the drinks, they responded with "we can't serve liquor until 12:00pm on Sundays". Ok. Totally understandable. I'll get back to this later... About the meal... Eggs benedict was so-so. It tasted like the hollandaise was sitting under a heat lamp for an hour. The poached eggs were great though. When we got our bill, all three of us were surprised that we had been charged full price for our coffees. I know it doesn't seem like a huge deal, but we paid for booze, didn't get it - so we got coffee instead. No big deal, right? Wrong. We asked our server to take off the price of the coffees (about $5) hoooly shit. She went into the kitchen area (which was right behind us) and told her manager the entire story. We heard everything, which is ANNOYING. We don't need to hear the entire conversation. It's unprofessional and RUDE. So the manager comes over and explains that it's not his fault that we can't have booze. Ok, we were over the booze, just comp my coffee so we can get outta this place. He made a mountain out of a mole-hill and my friend put him in his place!!! He was being completely ridiculous, REFUSING to comp us for the price of the coffee when we paid MORE for a drink we couldn't have. WTF!? In the end, he ended up comping my friends entire meal, which was WAY more than we had expected, what an idiot! I won't go back here.
(3)Brian B.
Overall, mid level average food quality. Nothing I had was super wow nor was it bad in any way either. I had a pretty decent cheeseburger with the fried mozzerella appetizer. Also had a cup of the clam chowder. Everything was pretty good and so was the service. I would not go out of my way to eat here but it's very convenient if you are staying at the Hampton Inn which is connected to it.
(3)Busy L.
Big disappointment. Quality and service went downhill. Service was horrible and food was subpar. Crabcakes were fishy. Steak with melted cheddar was lacking flavor and tasted like the steak was soaked in a brine. S&S cheesecake was the only highlight.
(1)Lyndsay B.
While expensive, Joe's food is pretty good. The (lunch) service here is quick and efficient (just what you want at lunch). Call ahead if you're planning for a large group, otherwise getting a table can be a bit difficult.
(4)Jessica B.
It's not listed, but Joe's in Natick is the best! Steve the manager is awesome, he really knows how to take care of people. And the grande nachos are to die for!
(5)Mike T.
service was horrible and the food was cold and there was no one in the place i would not go here again
(1)John R.
Not the very good pretty much all the Joe's are the same and all not the best, I have tried the Woburn location out several times now and was never even close to being impressed with the food but again none of the Joe's are in my top picks for steak/food. The service was OK staff was hit or miss, some were friendly at times other were not but they are not the reason fo only two stars. The food mediocre at best the steaks are just not very tastey not sure if it's the way they cook them or just low quality meat. Every time I have visited the place only had a handful of customers, maybe my timing was off but IMO if this is the norm for the place I can't believe they make enough money to keep the doors open. The two Joe's in Boston seem to attract a bigger crowd but I am sure they are more tourists than actual Boston residents. I wouldn't recommend going to Joe's there is plenty out there that are much better.
(2)David Y.
Only place local that shows Steelers games!
(5)