Joshua Tree Bar & Grill

I wasn't pleased with my various experiences here. If it weren't for my friends being around, I'd probably would've hated it. I wasn't a fan of the drinks, and I've had plenty to know that they weren't so great. The food is standard bar fare but really doesn't make up for it. If your scene is college-kid and/or douchebaggy (which I've seen on various, but not all, visits there) then you'd probably fit in at this bar. Me? I don't handle myself well around it. Maybe with a different crowd of people I would've liked it. It's a shame too, since I lived so close to the bar that you'd think I'd get used to the scene, but sadly no. Other bars are the same distance away in opposite directions, and I was happy to bring my business there. Pros: Cool ambiance in a neighborhood setting Cons: Everything else. more

OMG! I've never been here before and as soon as I walked through the door I fell in love with this place! They had Rock Band 2 on the big screen at the back of the bar and a Nintendo Wii up front!\r \r My friends and I had so much fun pretending to be rock stars all night! I even got up and sang Wonderwall (I sounded horrible, but for some reason nobody noticed!)\r \r The service was good and the food and drinks were great! The crowd was sort of mixed up with a lot of college kids but also a bunch of 30-somethings. Everyone was really cool though and we made some new friends too!\r \r We'll definitely be back next Wednesday night to play Rock Band! Pros: Rock Band and Nintendo Wii on Wednesday nights! Cons: Sometimes hard to get the bartender's attention more

I ha ve chosen to remove my post as my experience was too long ago and things could have changed. I believe that things should not be judged on past experiences. more

Gone to Joshua Tree once. I can't not write this it is so gross...Hair in my food and a big insect (for some reason the website won't let me tell which kind...but a kind you don't want) in the booth i was sitting in. Crawling right next to my head. \r Manager just asked me if I wanted to move to another table. DISGUSTING!!! I will never go back there. That place is dirty! Pros: location Cons: dirty more

The Joshua Tree is always packed at night with a crowd that ranges from College kids to the 40 and 50 year old crowd. A good mix of music. I've heard a string of songs that go Snoop Dogg, Journey, Pearl Jam, Bon Jovi. Decent Beer selection, but sometimes hard to get a drink so be prepared to be patient and have to weasel your way to the bartender. Pros: Atmosphere Cons: Crowded more

Went in for lunch with a few friends today (weekday). We end up to be the only party left in the place, having a lot of fun. One extraordinarily drunk regular (we assume) came staggering over to our table, accosted our Middle Eastern friend and his wife, harassing them, and stayed continuing for what felt like forever. The waitstaff let it happen, watched it all from the sidelines, doing absolutely nothing, let him tell us 10 times he was a 'boxer from Ireland' and even ripped his shirt to show us his muscles. They still did nothing. Nobody else in the place, remember, only us. After 5-10 minutes of this scary encounter the bartender (a girl) said ""hey come on back over here by the bar, ok?"" and THEN the waiter (a guy) came over. A few minutes later they let the man come over AGAIN, and they reacted slightly quicker to get him away since we were obviously upset. We never got more than one mumbled ""sorry about that"" from the waiter. No reassurance that he's harmless or anything. The drunk man was extremely big, scary, drunk, and only wanted to harass our friend from the Middle East and his wife, didn't even look at the rest of us at the table. No management was there, no answer on the phone as I've obviously been trying to call to reach someone. This was completely unacceptable behavior. The waiter took the appetizers off our bill, but he obviously didn't get any tip from us since he left us in a very dangerous situation. Aloof waitstaff let us hang out to dry. Do not go there if you have any friends that are foreigners. I still can't reach management....unacceptable. Cons: Service more

My friends and I have found a new place!! Good service and great pub food.\r It is a great atmosphere to hang out with your friends great for the football games to have a beer or two and some good food. Pros: great beer selection! Cons: parking sometimes more

This is a great place to go on a Thursday night. Stopped in a few weeks ago and finally they have a dj that plays great hiphop and spins some nice tunes. It doesn't hurt that the guy also is pretty hot. The drinks and food are okay nothing great but we had a lot of fun we definitely will go back just for the entertainment. Too bad the dj is not there on the weekends. The staff is friendly but it did take a while to order and get our drinks. Pros: dj on Thursday nights, food is good Cons: service could be quicker more

If you want to watch the game, or pick up a tufts chick, the Tree is your spot. Unfortunately it is not the best set up. The bar is to big for the room, so you end up squished against the wall and have to wait extra long for a drink. It does have a big screen and a bunch of other tv's so if you live in the area, which I did for a couple years, it's the best place to catch a game in davis...which isn't saying much. Food is good pub food, fairly priced, but overall, the service is pretty crappy, and the one manager I met came off as rude. Bar staff was pretty friendly overall. Pros: tv's, pretty bartenders and servers, good looking clientele Cons: college crowd, cramped, service more

While typically known for the college scene (I have been in a few times late on Friday or Saturday - packed with Tufts students), the Joshua Tree is no mere meat market. Food is above average pub fare, with great specials - I had the Cajun rainbow trout with mango salsa. Service is good, but staff seems to be very busy, so come early for the most attention. Overall, very much a friendly place with staff and regulars who are pleasant and willing to get to know you, and what you drink. Tons of beer on tap, too. Pros: Friendly staff, Great food, Attractive people Cons: Can be very busy, College crowd more

I have lived in Davis Square for five years and have tended to aviod the Joshua Tree because every time I've gone it has been full of loud, obnoxious college students. I thought I would give it a try again, though, because it seemed fairly quiet on a Sunday night. What a mistake.....*horrible* service, and I don't have incredibly high standards. I would recommend any bar in Davis but there. Cons: Staff more

I would like to preface this review by saying that I will NEVER go back to the Joshua Tree again. Our party had a horrible experience which was supplemented with a very reactive manager who was extremely apologetic but did not help out our situation at all. After a two hour wait for a table (granted there was a fairly large group), we were given a table with fewer stools than people. Hence, some of our group was instructed to stand. To top off this ordeal, our waitress forgot to order our food, twice! Another gentleman joined our party and ordered late. He was served and finished eating before she had even realized that she still hadn't ordered our food! Needless to say a three and a half hour wait for the mediocre food and minimal compensation for our experience wasenough to turn me off of that place forever. Horrible! Pros: Good Crowd, Nice Decor Cons: , Incompetent Staff, Mediocre food more

Went here for dinner/drinks with friends and Family on Saturday night. We requested that game 6 of the series be put on the big screen (and yes, we were a group of Red Sox fans, wanted to see the game turnout) - and was met by an extremely rude, curt, manager who not only made us feel as if we were asking him to climb Mt. Everest - but when we threatened to leave and pay only a portion of our $200+ tab - made us pay the percentages of what we ate (which by the way, the food was lukewarm and mediocre at best). Petty, sad, and will most likely be out of business if treatment like this continues. We will NEVER go back to this bar/restaurant again (that goes for the one in NYC when we are in town). Pros: Inexpensive, seated promptly Cons: Rude Management, Nasty attitudes, Terrible more

The atmosphere reminds me of an early ninties upscale bar in Greenwich. The food lacks any kind of originality while the bread bowl NE clam chowder may make you salivate the texture and consistency is straight out of a can. Stick with beer here since the consistency of the mixed drinks seems to vary widly. Pros: nice decor, good chatting in back Cons: inattentive staff, boring,tasteless food, poor mixed drinks more

I live nearby and have been to the Tree many times. It's the closest thing Davis Square has to a sports bar. It offers attractive clientele and staff, but service is terribly and consistently slow. Food is tasty; they have a solid beer selection. Sadly, the bar takes up half the room, and it is such a huge pain to get from the front to the back. If you want a real Irish bar experience, don't waste your time - head right across the street to the Burren. Pros: attractive people, TV's from every angle, good beer selection Cons: slow service, little room to move more

I went to meet a friend that lives around the corner from this place. Nice place for a few drinks and to watch some sports. good bartenders. more

I have to say that I'm surprised the Joshua Tree garnered such a strong negative reaction from earlier posters. I've been eating there for almost two years now, and have never had a bad meal. It's never been outstanding, either, but it's bar food - what do you expect? It's generic, American-type food, and I think it's good for what it is. There are many options on the menu. It can take a while to get seated, though, so if you want to eat, get there early. Now, if you want a BAR, go to the Burren, across the street.. Pros: inexpensive, lots of variety Cons: long waits for tables more

I love eating here! I've been here tons of time and the food and drinks (beer) have always rocked. Great place to sit at bar and watch game too more