Not Your Average Joe’s

My favorite item is their painkiller drink. I have never been a fan of meatloaf but I love their stuffed meatloaf when it is on the menu. Their bread is also, of course, super tasty. The only disappointing items for me are the desserts because they never taste sweet enough for me but that could just be personal preference.

The whole family agreed we won’t be going back any time soon or at all. When NYAJ opened in Woodbridge VA, we were one of the early patrons and would keep coming back because of the farm to table concept. Yesterday was our son’s birthday so we decided to go back after a while. Only the pizza was good. They used to have good bread for starters, that was not fresh. Their tomato basil soup was not even hot and Panera’s is MUCH better. Waldorf salad was a disgrace and for $ 16+ was extremely overpriced. I even tasted the mac & cheese kids meal and it was tasteless, the sauce was almost non-​existent — it was like plain pasta.

We returned here to NYAJ and had patio seating, there was a nice breeze. The waitress was great with food and drink suggestions. We had such a great time talking and enjoying our weekday afternoon, salad and food and drinks were wonderful A1 this time !!!
I have been to this Woodbridge location numerous times and received great food and service even with large parties of 10. I brought a friend with me this time to happy hour and believe me it wasn’t very happy.
We sat down and ordered, it was pretty busy for a week night. We received our bread cold and old, in stead of hot and fresh. We had guac and chips the portion was so small I could have ate it all on one chip, very disappointing. I told my friend to order a pineapple pain killer too as they are pretty good and they didn’t stir it enough or shake it enough cuz my drink had all the alcohol and my friend had almost none.
We ordered food and a margarita, the drink wasn’t good, it tasted like dirty water. After our main food came I thought everything could be better but it wasn’t, cold food and not tasty as all the other times I have enjoyed my visits. Needless to say my friend thinks we shouldn’t go to NYAJ again.

Not coming back until they bring back the pork shank.
Food is good. Drinks are good. Service is good.
But they always seem to out of the stuff we want.
And now that they’ve gotten rid of the pork shank we won’t bring our appetites back until the shank is brought back.

By far the best place to eat in the area! From a great ambiance, to a great menu, this place is awesome. The variety of choices will satisfy just about every palate, and everything is super delicious! Roy, our waiter, was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable, easy-​going and entertaining! I definitely recommend this place!
P. S. — try the peanut butter thing!

My boyfriend and I stopped in here for a quick snack and a drink after a trip to IKEA. After roaming the endless hallways of inexpensive do-​it-​yourself projects, we were definitely in need of a beer!
We never intended on getting dinner, but based on our experience this WILL be a place to return to.
The interior has an industrial style décor. Wooden floors that appear aged like that of an old DC warehouse, tall black cushioned barstools, and black metal pendant lights hanging over the bar. The bar booths had metal pipes for patrons to rest their feet on and the table tops also had the look of thick aged wood. Loved looking around, very clean.
A small appetizer of hummus and veggies seemed appropriate for a quick bite. Service was a bit slow so the bartender brought us some fresh bread. IT WAS DELICIOUS. The bread was fresh, warm and surprising light and airy– although it had a distinct buttery taste. The top was crispy and golden with what appeared to be caramelized onions (not too many just enough for flavor!) and a garlic-​salty kick. Served with EVOO mixed with spices including hot pepper and parmesan cheeses. Nom! We ate ALL 6 pieces.
Then we waited… the service was so slow. Was this normal? The place was quickly becoming crowded; a line began forming at the door. We had finished our drinks… and still no hummus. A nearby bar patron mentioned that he waited quite a while for his salad as well. After about 40 minutes, we asked the bartender to cancel our appetizer.
HOWEVER, the server was apologetic, the manager came over and was apologetic, and we still got to enjoy the hummus at home. It was a generous portion of hummus, and had a slight sweet red pepper flavor. It was served with sliced cucumber, carrots, radishes, and tomatoes. My only wish is that it had come other «dipping» veggies instead of radishes, like celery or sliced peppers.
Normally, bread, hummus, and beer wouldn’t warrant 5-​star review, but based on the experience, the menu, and the attention received upon realizing the problem, we will definitely be returning.

Only a few reasons I did not give them a 5. 1^st, we sat at the bar while we waited for our table (which was a short wait) and wanted to order a beer. The female bartender (didn’t get her name) was not overly friendly. We requested a dark draft but they didn’t have a single one among the many taps. Ordered a Virginia lager, and it was good.
Our waiter Steven was courteous, prompt, and knowledge. His recommendations were spot on. Could not have been a better server.
We wanted dessert, he suggested the best dessert ever (his words), so we ordered it. Peanut butter thing. It was amazing.
Here is my second minor complaint; there wasn’t much choice of dessert wines. Only 1 port in fact. Taylor 10 year which is low on the scale. But alas, we wanted a port and ordered it anyway. At least it was a healthy pour.
The food and service were outstanding. Only little issues with the bar. Would go back if in the area.

Been a while for us (after a couple of not so great experiences) and was so glad we returned. The salmon was excellent and cooked to perfection. My burger was very good, cooked just the way I requested and the cous cous was incredible. The meat was obviously good quality although the burger was a little dry. All in all an excellent meal with excellent service (server was great) and we will return with hopes that the quality will continue.

We were hungry and in Woodbridge today so we decided to eat here. This place has options for every palette. We decided to orderappetizers, as we couldn’t decide exactly what we were in the mood for. We order the ahi tuna wontons, deviled eggs, and chicken dumplings. The ahi tuna wontons were our favorite, although I also love any and every deviled egg and dumpling so it all was delicious! Our server, Virginia, was a sweetheart! We also were given the ahi recommendation from another server named Sasha and a great recommendation it was :) thank you!

My first time at NYAJ and we loved it! The only downside was that our waitress took a while getting our drinks but the food and ambiance made up for it. We ordered the nachos as an appetizer and they were delicious! The presentation was amazing and the veggies really added some color. I ordered the bbq pizza as an appetizer and my boyfriend ordered the mustard chicken with lemon aioli sauce and green beans. The pizza was crisp, delicious and hot. Meanwhile, my boyfriend really enjoyed the chicken, wasn’t a big fan on the sauce (I loved it!) and loved the bread served. Portions were filling and delicious. We’ll definitely be coming again soon!

The best Gluten Free bread, EVER! Not just because of my maple bourbon old fashioned. The bread and dip, it was actual bread! The texture was amazing. Thank you Emily for the great drinks and the bread recommendation.
The gluten free menu was as extensive as I have seen, they seem not only aware and accommodating, but actually concerned about your allergies not affecting your meal.
Highly recommend!
My friend had a delicious steak wedge salad, and the deviled eggs were so good too. Definitely worth the trip!

Why can’t we have a NYAJ’S in SoCal???
…oh yeah, because I’d bust my wallet and my waistband within the month. Then my husband would leave me, I’d lose my house, have to start panhandling for NYAJ’S gift cards. We all know that I have zero impulse control when it comes to food. If ya’ didn’t– now you’re all caught up. For those of you who know how to behave around food, please try this place if you have the chance.
We went during a *yaybee* lunch after a week long conference. It was pretty quiet, so naturally the service was spot on. We sat at the bar. Our bartender, a funny young guy with longish hair, was attentive, entertaining and quite good w/​the drinks. He made a perfect pour martini and a concoction of his own (raspberry, ginger beer, some other stuff) — delish!
Food:
Spicy tuna roll: tempura and fried. I know, I know… but hubby REALLY enjoyed it.
Chicken cesar: I have eaten my rabbitasorous share of greens. This Cesar was really good! The chicken portion was noticeably bigger than norm. Fresh, well seasoned, not the least bit dry. It’s the dressing! Tangy, light, perfect.
Chicken enchiladas: Again, not the typical. No red or white sauce here. It’s a green, avocado cream sauce. Hubby was a happy guy! Thanks, NYAJ’S!
Steak frites: Rare and cooked to spec. I switched out the fries for onion straws and so glad I did! It’s served with a generous portion of lightly dressed arugula. I just about kicked my plate.
I did not dare try dessert. I was having problems seeing my feet as it was.
Thank you, Virginia, it’s been real… fattening.

I have eaten ate this restaurant numerous times with the food and service wonderful. Today my sister and obviously sick bother in law, cancer not that that should matter, decided to have lunch on such a beautiful day. Came in through back door since he can’t walk far. Asked for a seat on the patio in the SHADE well we were given a table partially in the sun with 3 tables available in the shade. When we asked to be moved that started the whole tune of our meal. Slow service, Bud Lite was ordered Bud regular served, unsweetened tea, sweet tea served, hamburger served with the cheese unmelted bun stale so how long was it sitting? I mean the cheese was cold!
Come on!!! So no not impressed and no I didn’t bring this to the attention of the manager since he was the one that showed us to our table. Not impressed!
For $ 50.00 bucks I’d expect better.

Woohoo! My new spot!
Everything about this place is superb. Let me break it down…
1) Décor and Ambiance: New, fresh, modern, clean. Walking in, both my boyfriend and said «Damn, this is nice.» Not in a fancy type of way, but it was definitely appealing for all age groups, unique, and relatively new.
2) Size: This place was huge with big tables, small tables, tall tables, and low tables — and marble countertops at the bar!
3) Service: Excellente. The service was so good to a point where I often didn’t need anything when the waitress stopped by and asked.
4) HAPPY HOUR: Great specials. Great flavored drinks. AND extra strong… oh yes. (I will attach the happy hour menu along with my review for all you thirsty individuals out there).
5) Food: Great. Flavors were on point, and it was all served hot.
I was very happy to stumble upon this gem. The area around it is also nice, which gives it an extra boost. The shopping center looks very new and has so many other new restaurants and stores around it.
Lovely place. Great for all occasions. Don’t forget to stop by :)

Home away from home…
My husband and I have lived in Woodbridge for many years and frequent many restaurants in the area as well as northern VA & DC. The customer service and food presentation at this location is outstanding. The menu variety is certainly some of the best in the area, most of which is made from scratch. What separates this establishment from most every other restaurant in the area is the manner in which you are treated from the time you walk in the door to the time you leave.
Henry (manager) is always on top of his game ensuring that guests are having a wonderful dining experience. He is by far the best restaurant manager we have ever known. The servers and bar staff are amazing, especially Paige, Emily, Marie, Kristy, Michelle, and Louis.
It is for these reasons that we celebrate many special events at NYAJ, including holidays. We recently celebrated Valentine’s Day here, and although the specialty dessert for the holiday — red velvet cheese cake — was not ready to be served while we were there, Henry and his staff made up for this shortcoming in ways most establishments would be unwilling to do.
For the few of you who have had a not so pleasant dining experience at NYAJ, my husband and I encourage you to give them another chance, as your reviews are nothing like any experience we have ever encountered there, and we have been coming for several years. Trust me when I say to you, if something is not right with your dining experience, simply alert management to it and they will make it right. For those of you who have not been to this location, you are really missing out.
Great job NYAJ Woodbridge!

I love Not Your Average Joe’s. I have been a longtime fan, starting with the location in Arlington, Massachusetts, and now in Woodbridge, VA. I was happy to FINALLY make it to the restaurant with my partner, who was unfamiliar with the restaurant. He doesn’t *quite* get my enthusiasm, but he enjoyed the meal as well. The fresh focaccia with garlicky olive oil and pepper dip is phenomenal, but it WILL leave you with some serious garlic breath! I ordered the seasonal molasses-​braised pork shank, which came highly recommended by our server. My partner ordered a Mushroom swiss burger and fries. Both were prepared perfectly, and the server was very attentive. I enjoy the from-​scratch approach of Not Your Average Joe’s, and their willingness to adjust entrees based on individual preferences.
I should note that the restaurant was VERY busy, but the wait was not long (call-​ahead seating is awesome), and service was efficient given how full the restaurant was.

My server Emily was fantastic,
Appetizer was amazing with great taste and style, my entrée came out accordingly, great burger with juicy taste, the shots were great as well as our mixed drinks, great service, will definitely come back again and again.
Damn Daniel back at it with the dank food! Ron was awesome, super chill and had great service. Got the buffalo tenders again cause they are FIRE. Stella always sits well in a 20oz mug. The bread is crack. My girl was pleased again so I’m pleased, will be back again, and again.

Had dinner here a few nights ago with my brother and his fiancé. The restaurants and pretty busy. The menu looked good, had plenty of different styles of food. I wasn’t very happy with the service… we had a young male waiter, he was either very new or hadn’t yet mastered his customer/​table etiquette. I found him to be slightly rude and aggravating. Maybe he was just having a bad night, but when I go out to have dinner at a nice restaurant, I expect to have nice interactions with my waiter and good food to eat. At least the food in this case was good. The ambience was ok. Somewhat loud, but the restaurant was packed so that was understandable. The light above our table was really dim, it made looking at our food plates somewhat difficult… glad my phone has a flashlight app on it.
That’s all I care to write, won’t be back… not my kinda place. I wasn’t able to enjoy my experience.

We were looking for a place to go for my birthday. This place caught my eye on Unilocal.The photos I saw impressed me so I thought that I give this place a shot.
It was a bit tight but the ambience was nice. It was the day after Thanksgiving so we had to wait a little longer than normal. The booths are a little tight. I’m 6’5 to give you some perspective. The wait staff was friendly. We were seated by the wait staff prep station and I kept hearing my name mentioned while were being seated. I wasn’t sure if someone who worked there had the same name or not. It was just a little weird.
The food was pretty good. We started off with the steak and cheese egg rolls and the salmon over cucumbers and wonton. My recommendation is to go with the wonton. The steak and cheese egg rolls were pretty good as well.
We had jambalaya, chicken scampi, burger and salmon salad. Everyone was happy with their food. The menu is diverse and this is a place that can pretty much cater to everyone. Nice spot. Oh. they have a full bar.

Free birthday lunch! I signed up on their web sight and got $ 15 coupon. That was one of the best birthday freebies.
Taste: Pretty good. Bread and the spicy parmesan olive oil sauce. Grilled salmon and Vietnamese rice noodle. The noodle did not taste Vietnamese for me but interesting in a good way. If they put fresh cilantro, it could be better I reckon. Also I like their colorful dishes!
Price: Not bad. Lunch $ 10 – 20. Dinner &15−30. Without drinks.
The staff: Waitresses are really nice. Hostesses should smile.
Interior: Pretty cool and modern. High ceiling.
Location: Great! New shopping area. Everything you need is in the area.
Parking: Free everywhere.
They sometimes have alcohol drink and food paring dinner. I’d like to join one next time!