Strengths: Friendly waitstaff, pretty good salads, wonderful nachos, great burgers, decent pasta dishes, good sandwiches, tasty fries & other side dishes. Their steaks and chicken dishes are pretty good, too. Portion sizes are generous. I’m not a dessert person, so I can’t comment on them. Like-able decor. Best brunch in the greater Acton area! And their once-a-year lobster and surf & turf specials are great, too.

Not-so-strengths: Other than their excellent nachos, the other appetizers, especially their mussels, are mediocre at best. Booths are nice-sized, but the seats are so far away from the tables it’s a crap shoot whether the food can get to one’s mouth without landing on one’s clothing first. They used to pour a reasonably generous cocktail, but now they’re too heavy on the ice.

The bottom line: Decent food, nice ambience, and they clearly care about customer service. We’re lucky to have this neighborhood-feeling place in our own backyard. Maybe that’s why every out-of-town friend I’ve ever taken here always wants to come back, even the ones from Boston. With and without their kids.