where it all began
In 1993 Steve Silverstein returned home to Dartmouth to help his dad operate the family’s esteemed nearly 100 year old Silverstein’s clothing store. he recognized there was a shortage of great restaurants with reasonable prices in the suburbs.
so, despite never having worked in a restaurant a day in his life, Steve opened a restaurant. he had four generations of customer service in his blood and he knew that great hospitality was the foundation of every restaurant he loved. the idea was to create a unique neighborhood place, where people know your name, where the food and prices are great and where you can be made to feel special without dressing up.
in July 1994, the first Not Your Average Joe’s opened in its current Dartmouth, MA location.
over the next 25 years, Steve built Not Your Average Joe’s into a nationwide restaurant name. while growing the company was fun and rewarding, Steve longed to get back to his roots. he missed being in the restaurant. he missed the employee interaction, the guest conversations, playing with the food and simply being a hands-on small local business guy.
in March 2018, Steve retired from Not Your Average Joe’s and purchased back his flagship Dartmouth location. given the return of Dartmouth to it's roots and his newfound independence, Steve changed the name to Joe’s Original.
Steve feels that Joe’s Original, more simply referred to as Joe’s, reflects his vision for his first restaurant and fits his vision for the future: owning and operating a small iconic restaurant in his hometown where the food is great, the vibe is cool, the culture is palpable and the commitment to the guest is unparalleled.
in 2025, Joe's Original celebrates 31 years in business.
everyday, Steve continues his work to make Joe’s Original the restaurant he always imagined; an independent, owner-operated and comfortable place where hospitality and familiar faces create the magic.
we hope that you thoroughly enjoy your experience at Joe’s and sense the passion and love that the long-standing team brings everyday to make your experience great.
please be sure to share your thoughts with Steve or any of his fantastic teammates.
thank you for your role in making Joe’s a true Original.