Not Your Average Joe’s, a New England-based restaurant chain, recently opened its 20th location and first in Pennsylvania. It is located in Glen Eagle Square Shopping Center in Glen Mills in the former Outback Steakhouse.
NYAJ features casual dining with American-style, chef-driven cuisine. Owner Steve Silverstein wanted to create a unique neighborhood place where people know your name, where the food and prices are great and where you feel special without dressing up. After visiting the brand new outpost, I think he has succeeded.
Silverstein describes the interior as “elegantly casual with an industrial-chic, including many reclaimed materials and artisan-made furnishings. It’s an aesthetic that reflects the restaurant’s commitment to creativity and design.”
NYAJ focuses the menu on inventive food utilizing fresh, local ingredients. Jeff Tenner, NYAJ’s culinary V.P. and executive chef, said, “we love to partner with farmers and producers near our locations. Here in PA, we’re particularly excited about our local pasta, sausage, cheese and mushrooms.”
The company is also proud to offer a full gluten-free menu and because each item is made to order, allergies and other dietary restrictions can easily be accommodated.
I started my meal with the Thai chicken lettuce wraps. The plate came with three crisp lettuce leaves filled with pulled grilled chicken, mandarin oranges, sugar snap peas, carrots and chopped peanuts. A chilled tangy sesame-ginger vinaigrette was served on the side.
I hear that the “nacho average nachos” are a must-have appetizer. Instead of a pile of chips with toppings, this dish includes several crisp, large tortilla triangles each individually layered with chipotle-braised chicken and melted pepper jack with cumin sour cream and avocado-corn salsa. The Chinese steak egg rolls are a new item and exclusive to the Glen Mills locale. This fusion of Asian and Philly cuisine is showcased in a crispy fried egg roll filled with provolone and American cheeses, caramelized onions and a spicy Chinese mustard.
Entrees include large salads, burgers and sandwiches as well as hearth-baked pizzas. The fresh pizza dough is hand-stretched and baked in the stone hearth at 700 degrees. Standout pizzas include the roasted shrimp and artichoke (feta, mozzarella, romano and roasted red peppers, topped with a scribble of lemon basil aioli) and the Santa Fe chicken (pulled chicken, grilled corn, red onions, poblano peppers, mozzarella and chipotle sour cream).
I ordered the Nantucket chopped salad for my entree. I was intrigued by the pickled cranberries in the large salad. They added the perfect piquant pop of flavor to the dish, which was overflowing with grilled chicken, blue cheese, bacon, grilled corn, chopped kale and romaine, all finished with house-made barbecue mustard vinaigrette.
Amy Strauss, PA Eats’s editor-in-chief, nibbled on the three-cheese pistachio pizza. The pie was topped with chopped California pistachios, fresh rosemary, slivered red onion, parmesan, mozzarella and asiago cheeses with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. The pistachios were a novel approach to pizza and their distinct nutty taste and crunchy texture expertly elevated the pie.
NYAJ’s bar program features a menu of cocktails including mojitos, martinis and margaritas and a Moscow mule, served in a traditional copper mug. With a list that boasts 40 wines, 21 that are served by the glass, NYAJ promises to become a go-to spot for oenophiles. Besides offering wines by the glass and bottle, NYAJ also offers “big pours” for those who want something in between. Also worth noting, NYAJ features 20 rotating drafts of local, national and imported beers. Be sure to ask for the featured local beer.
Of course, you always should leave room for dessert and I am glad that I did. When our waiter offered up Joe’s speciality, the “peanut butter thing,” I was immediately sold. This “thing” was made of peanut butter and chocolate chunks folded into vanilla ice cream and then rolled in Oreo cookie crumbs and served with homemade whipped cream. When the waiter drizzled it with both hot chocolate and caramel sauces tableside, I could barely wait for him to leave so I could dig in. The decadently sweet and creamy dessert exceeded my expectations, ending my visit on a high note.
A second Pennsylvania location is scheduled to open in Ardmore (49 St. James Place) in the fall.
Find Not Your Average Joe’s at 561 Glen Eagle Square in Glen Mills; phone: (610) 500-2222.
